ROCKETS 104, KINGS 87: Courtney Lee scored 23 points as visiting Houston won its third in a row and handed Sacramento its fourth consecutive loss.

Houston point guard Kyle Lowry returned after missing 15 games with a bacterial infection and had one free throw and six assists in 17 minutes.

Goran Dragic had 15 points and nine assists. Luis Scola had 13 points and eight rebounds. Chase Budinger scored 15. Patrick Patterson had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Chandler Parson scored 10.

The Rockets have won seven of eight in Sacramento.

Reserve Terrence Williams led the Kings with 21 points and eight rebounds. Jimmer Fredette scored 17 and Isaiah Thomas had 16.

Sacramento had 21 turnovers, leading to 23 points. The Kings also were just 20 of 37 from the free throw line.

The Rockets also had big advantages in points in the paint (46-28) and fast-break points (25-12).

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kings starting center Marcus Camby did not return in the second half because of nausea. The Kings also were without Marcus Thornton (bruised left calf), John Salmons (sore right hip) and Francisco Garcia (head). … The Kings had 12 turnovers in the first half, leading to 13 points for the Rockets. Houston also had 16 fast-break points to two for the Kings.