Wall flirts with triple-double, Wizards beat Rockets 123-122

Houston Rockets

HOUSTON (AP) -- John Wall had 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds and the Washington Wizards rallied for a 123-122 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Ramon Sessions had 17 points off the bench, Jared Dudley had 16 points and Marcin Gortat had 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Wizards shot 52 percent.

Gary Neal had 12 points, and Bradley Beal and Garret Temple each added 11 for Washington.

James Harden had 40 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, but Houston lost its third straight.

Dwight Howard had 20 points and seven rebounds for the Rockets but was ejected for the second straight game. He got his second technical of the night with 8:08 left in the fourth after pushing Nene while the two tangled under the basket. Nene was also ejected for a double technical on the play.

Trevor Ariza scored 17 points, Patrick Beverley had 15 points and Houston shot 48 percent from the field and connected on 17 of 35 from behind the arc.

Houston led 116-110 with 3 1/2 minutes remaining, but Gortat scored four points, Wall connected on a 3 and Dudley and Wall each hit two free throws during an 11-1 run to give Washington a four-point lead with 1:13 left.

Harden cut the deficit to 121-119 with a minute left, but Dudley extended the lead back to four with a layup with 37 seconds remaining.

After Harden responded with a three-point play to cut the lead to one, Wall missed a layup with 9 seconds left and Ariza grabbed the rebound. Harden missed a driving layup, and Josh Smith missed the putback attempt with 2 seconds left. Wall came out with the rebound and hurled the ball downcourt to seal the win.

HEAVY HEART

Randy Wittman coached the game after his brother, Rick, passed away late Friday night in Indianapolis.

TIP INS

Wizards: F Kris Humphries missed his 13th straight game due to a sore right knee. ... Dudley was given a flagrant foul midway through the second quarter after wrapping his hands around Howard's neck while Howard went for a dunk.

Rockets: Houston assigned F K.J. McDaniels and F/C Donatas Montiejunas to its D-League affiliate Rio Grande Valley prior to the game Saturday. Montiejunas has missed the last 16 games with back soreness.

TALKING TECHNICALS

Howard was whistled for his first technical foul after putting his hands on the back of Dudley's neck following Dudley's flagrant foul in what appeared to be a joking manner. Howard was also ejected from Friday's game and has 12 technical fouls this season. Houston interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff also earned a technical foul for running onto the court to call a timeout with 3:52 remaining in the fourth.

UP NEXT

Wizards: Travel to Oklahoma City on Monday night.

Rockets: Host Miami on Tuesday night.