Rockets 122, Suns 108
Dwight Howard had 34 points and 14 rebounds as host Houston knocked off Phoenix for its fourth consecutive victory.
James Harden scored 23 points and Terrence Jones added 19 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets, who were 11-of-16 from 3-point range. Chandler Parsons added 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Goran Dragic had 23 points and eight assists for the Suns, who dropped their second straight after a five-game winning streak. Leandro Barbosa, Gerald Green and P.J. Tucker added 13 points apiece.
Phoenix was within 108-102 after a 3-pointer by Marcus Morris with 4:26 to play before Harden hit a 3-pointer and Parsons hit a jumper to push the lead back to 11. A 3-pointer by Channing Frye allowed the Suns to cut their deficit to seven with 2:58 left before Howard hit four straight free throws and Harden made two for a 120-107 margin with 1:22 to play.
Harden scored 16 points and Houston was 7-of-10 from 3-point range in the first half as the Rockets led 66-63 at the break. Howard tallied tight points in the third quarter as Houston took a 95-90 lead into the final stanza.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Harden and Parsons each made three 3-pointers for the Rockets. … The Suns were just 8-of-30 from 3-point range. … Howard was 12-of-18 from the free-throw line and is 27-of-37 over the last three games.