LOS ANGELES: James Harden delivered a message to his detractors on Thursday (Friday in Manila), finishing with 45 points as the Houston Rockets recorded their eighth win in nine games with a 127-113 victory over the Boston Celtics.

The reigning NBA MVP Harden played through the pain of a bruised calf and scored 17 of his points in the opening quarter. He shot 11 of 26 overall from the floor, including draining nine of 18 three pointers.