HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden scored 33 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 103-94 victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.
Houston beat Utah for the second time in four days, following a 93-91 win Monday in Salt Lake City. Harden had 30 points in that one and has scored at least 30 in three of his last four games.
Playing without Dwight Howard, who sat out with lower back tightness, the Rockets beat the Jazz for the 10th time in the last 12 meetings.
Gordon Hayward scored 15 points for Utah. Center Rudy Gobert played for the first time since spraining a left knee ligament on Nov. 30. He was limited to just 15 minutes but chipped in six points and three rebounds.
Howard was ruled out shortly before the game after playing a season-high 41 minutes on Monday. Despite his absence, the Rockets had a 48-42 advantage in points in the paint.
Clint Capela started at center and had seven points, 10 rebounds and three steals.
Trevor Booker had 12 points and nine rebounds for Utah, and Chris Johnson added 11 points. Reserves scored half of the Jazz's 94 points.
After a sizzling start where they raced to a 10-2 lead, turnovers and porous defense plagued the Rockets for much of the first half. A 23-8 run gave Utah a three-point lead at the end of the first quarter, and the Jazz led 44-39 at the half.
The Rockets stormed back in the third quarter, capitalizing on Jazz turnovers and scoring points in transition. Houston outscored Utah 17-2 in fast-break points.
Houston entered the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead and held on with timely 3-pointers from Jason Terry and Trevor Ariza. Terry and Marcus Thornton both had 12 points off the bench.
After having one of the league's worst defenses in the first month of the season, the Rockets have held opponents to less than 100 points in five of their last seven home games, going 5-2 in that stretch.
Utah has lost three straight after winning three of the previous four.
TIP-INS
Jazz: Utah fell to 10-6 in games where it held a halftime lead. ... Derrick Favors (back spasms) missed his eighth straight game, while Alec Burks (fractured left fibula) missed his seventh straight. . Trey Burke had 10 points off the bench.
Rockets: Besides Howard, Houston was without guard Ty Lawson, who was suspended three games for driving under the influence of alcohol last July, the league announced Thursday. Houston improved to 5-0 on the season in games Lawson did not play. ... After committing 16 turnovers in his previous three games, Harden had just four on Thursday.
UP NEXT
Jazz: Host Miami on Saturday.
Rockets: Host Indiana on Sunday.