HOUSTON - James Harden wasnt concerned about overstating the importance of Houstons come-from-behind victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. NMD Restock Canada . "We needed this win more than anything," he said. Harden had 33 points and 13 assists and the Rockets rallied for a 111-104 win over the Pelicans to maintain their spot in the Western Conference standings with the post-season just days away. The Rockets had lost two in a row and needed the win to stay ahead of Portland in fourth place in the West. The Rockets got a boost from the return of Dwight Howard and Patrick Beverley, who had both missed the last eight games with injuries. Beverley scored 20 points and Howard had 13. "Pat was knocking down shots and Dwight was an easy rim target, so it made things easier for me," Harden said. The Pelicans led by eight points with less than three minutes remaining when Houston used a 9-0 run, powered by two 3-pointers from Beverley to take a 105-104 lead with 1:04 left. Beverleys second 3 in that span clanged off the rim and into the air before falling back into the basket and bringing the crowd to its feet. Howard blocked a shot by Jeff Withey to give Houston the ball back after Beverleys first 3 in that run. Harden made a layup to give the Rockets their first lead since the second quarter after Beverleys 3s. Jeremy Lin extended the run to 11 straight points with his layup seconds later and stole the ball on the Pelicans next possession to secure the win. "We kind of had to pull a rabbit out of our hat tonight," coach Kevin McHale said. Luke Babbitt, who was signed by the Pelicans in February after playing 18 games in Russia this season, had a career-high 24 points as New Orleans dropped its eighth straight. Austin Rivers had a season-high 20 points with 10 rebounds and six assists, and Anthony Morrow also had 20 points. "We made a couple of mental mistakes, a couple of key turnovers and ... we had a couple of mishaps, and you combine those three things and its going to be tough to win," Rivers said. "This was a really frustrating loss." McHale hoped he wouldnt have to overexert Howard and Beverley in their first game back, but the game didnt work out that way. Howard played more than 29 minutes and Beverley more than 33. "They both said they were feeling fine and wanted to win the game and we needed that win," McHale said. New Orleans was clinging to a 3-point lead when Babbitt scored five quick points to extend the lead to 100-92 with about four minutes left. Harden was fouled as he made an off-balance layup with one hand and then made the free throw to get the Rockets within 91-87 with 7 1/2 minutes remaining. Houston trailed by 10 when Harden and Beverley hit 3-pointers sandwiched around a basket by Rivers to cut the lead to 90-84 with about eight minutes left. Beverley held up three fingers on each hand and beat his chest after he swished his 3-pointer. The Pelicans led 82-72 entering the fourth quarter. New Orleans was up by 15 points early in the third quarter when Houston used a 12-4 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Harden as the shot clock expired, to get within 65-58. A 3 by Lin, followed by a pair of free throws from Jones later in the quarter cut the Pelicans lead to 73-68. But New Orleans used a 7-2 run with the help of a 3-pointer by James Southerland to extend the lead to 80-70 with a minute left in the third quarter. Houston led by two with about 10 minutes left in the second quarter before New Orleans used a 8-2 run to take a 35-31 lead. The Rockets had regained a one-point lead soon after that when the Pelicans used a 19-6 spurt to go on top 56-44 about 2 1/2 minutes before halftime. Babbitt made three 3-pointers in that stretch and Rivers added a fourth 3. NOTES: Hall of Famer and former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon watched from a courtside seat. ... Houston extended its single-season record for sellouts to 37 with a sold-out crowd of 18,372 on Saturday night. ... Howard had been out because of a left ankle strain and Beverley missed time because of a torn meniscus in his right knee. ... Houstons Chandler Parsons (wrist and hip) and Francisco Garcia (back) sat out with injuries. They are both listed as day to day. ... Houstons Troy Daniels had a long Saturday. He played 44 minutes and scored 30 points in a D-League playoff game for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers before flying from Des Moines to Houston and collecting three points and a rebound in almost 13 minutes for the Rockets. Ultra Boost Cheap Canada . -- The Chicago Bears say they have agreed to a one-year contract with centre Roberto Garza. Ultra Boost Canada . The 25-year-old McIlroy, who is from Northern Ireland, was eligible to play for either Ireland or Team GB when golf makes its return to the Olympics in Brazil for the first time since 1904. http://www.nmdshoescanada.com/stan-smith-cheap-canada.html .com) - Jahlil Okafor erupted for 25 points and 20 rebounds as No.WINNIPEG -- Kevin Martin will have to beat his former third John Morris once more to get a shot at making it to another Olympics. The two will meet Saturday in the mens Olympic Trials curling semifinal to determine who will play Brad Jacobs on Sunday in the final for the coveted spot on the Olympic team. Martin defeated Morris 7-6 in an extra end to clinch second in the mens standings Friday. But Morris also advanced to the semifinal after Kevin Koe beat Mike McEwen 5-4, guaranteeing Morris a third-place finish. Martin is hoping he can repeat the feat Saturday en route to a fourth Olympics berth. He won gold in 2010 and silver in 2002 and also went to the 1992 Games. "I hope so," he said after Fridays win. "It will be a tight game again but it was good to get through that one and the hammer in the semi and well hopefully play another good game (Saturday). "I would have to say we have to play a little better than (Friday) as a team. We were a little bit sloppy on a couple of ends." Morris was happy with how his team played. "I think we had a real sound strategy and kept control most of that game," he said. The exception was the sixth end when Martin scored three. "If we can just pick it up maybe just a half notch then we can win this thing . . . I like our chances," said Morris, who was born in Winnipeg but has made his name curling for both Ontario and Alberta. The former two-time world junior champion joined Martins Edmonton-based rink in 2006 but abruptly left in April to sign with and skip Jim Cotters squad out of the Vernon and Kelowna curling clubs. Buy NMDs Canada. Cotter moved to third. Martin then picked up another Manitoba native, former Randy Ferby fourth rock Dave Nedohin, to replace Morris. In womens action, Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., advanced to a semifinal showdown with Ottawas on Friday night. The winner will face Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in Saturdays final. Middaugh ousted the last hometown favourite standing, Chelsea Carey, in a tight 6-3 tiebreaker. Neither skip really took many chances until a mistake by Careys second in the eighth end. Kristen Foster flashed on a guard and started a chain reaction that helped Middaugh get two for a 4-2 lead. She forced Carey to take one in the ninth and came home one up with the hammer, scoring two more in 10. "You certainly dont expect that," said Middaugh. "(Perhaps) just a half shot, not a total miss but then we took advantage of it." Carey was predictably disappointed but hoped her teams overall performance would silence those who suggested it didnt belong at the trials. "Weve proved that before but for whatever reason, nobody believes it," she said. "Maybe if we keep proving it, people will catch up." In other mens action, Jacobs completed the round robin with a 7-4 victory over John Epping, who finished last with a 1-6 record. Jeff Stoughton defeated Glen Howard 9-3 but both were already out of playoff contention. Stoughton finished 3-4 and Howard 2-5. ' ' '