Spurs 122, Rockets 116
Tony Parker collected 31 points and 10 assists and Tim Duncan scored 30 as host San Antonio picked up its fourth straight win.
Danny Green went 5-for-7 from 3-point range and finished with 17 points while Manu Ginobili also made five 3-pointers and scored 23 off the bench for the Spurs, who have taken each of the first three meetings this season with instate rival Houston.
James Harden scored a game-high 33 points, Chandler Parsons added 24 and Jeremy Lin collected 21 and eight assists for the Rockets, who had a five-game winning streak come to an end.
The Spurs were on fire in the opening quarter, jumping out to a 14-3 lead in the first 4:32 and stretching it out to as much as 23-8 before settling for a 12-point lead at the end of the frame. Houston briefly pulled ahead late in the second quarter before Ginobili poured in five straight points to make it a 69-65 San Antonio edge at the break.
The Rockets pulled within a basket several times in the third quarter but never managed to take the lead. A 14-5 run by the Spurs to begin the final frame put the game away.
GAME NOTEBOOK: In one of the more difficult back-to-backs on the schedule, the Rockets will head home to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. … The teams’ combined for 44 turnovers (24 by the Rockets). … San Antonio G Gary Neal (strained right calf) missed his second straight game.