Rockets 114, Raptors 105
Chase Budinger scored 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting and Kevin Martin added 20 points as the Houston Rockets ran away from the visiting Toronto Raptors, 114-105, on Friday.
Luis Scola chipped in 13 points and Patrick Patterson added 15 points and 10 boards as four reserves finished in double figures for the Rockets, who shot 48 percent from the floor.
The Raptors bolted out quickly in the first quarter, closing the frame with a 17-4 burst to grab a 34-20 lead.
But Houston got that all back and then some in the second, outscoring Toronto 41-20 in the period to take a 62-55 lead into the half. The bench took control, with Budinger going off for 13 points in the second while Brad Miller added eight and Courtney Lee chipped in seven.
The Raptors would not gain the lead again, getting as close as 86-79 in the fourth before the Rockets pulled away.
DeMar DeRozan scored 37 points and Linas Kleiza added 17 points and 12 rebounds for Toronto, which closed December with losses in 10 of the last 13.