Heat 113, Rockets 104
Ray Allen scored 14 of his season-high 25 points in the fourth quarter as host Miami squirted past Houston.
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade added 24 points apiece as the Heat won for only the second time in seven games. Chris Bosh contributed 18 points and eight rebounds as Miami moved within three games of the Indiana Pacers for the Eastern Conference leadership.
James Harden scored 30 points and Dwight Howard had 21 points and 14 rebounds as the Rockets stretched their losing streak to a season-worst three games. Patrick Beverley added 15 points and Terrence Jones scored 12 for Houston.
A 3-pointer by Beverley gave Houston a 102-98 lead with 4:26 remaining before Allen scored seven points during a 15-0 run that gave Miami a 113-102 lead. Wade, Bosh and James each scored two points during the surge as the Rockets missed their final six field-goal attempts.
Miami led by as many as 11 midway through the second quarter en route to a 57-54 lead at the break. The Rockets finished the third quarter with an 18-9 burst to take an 81-79 lead into the final stanza and the Heat caught Houston at 92 on Wade’s three-point play with 6:56 to go.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Allen is 9-of-13 from 3-point range while averaging 23.5 points over the last two games and has moved into 21st place on the NBA's all-time scoring list (24,370), two ahead of Allen Iverson. … The Rockets had a 54-40 edge in points in the paint. … Wade has topped 20 points in nine of his last 11 outings.