Raptors 107, Rockets 103: DeMar DeRozan erupted for 29 points as shorthanded Toronto fended off visiting Houston.

DeRozan shot 10-of-19 from the field and added six rebounds and four assists to pace the Raptors, who played without point guard Kyle Lowry (knee) and lost power forward Amir Johnson to a right ankle injury in the first quarter. The win moved Toronto 2 1/2 games ahead of Brooklyn in the race for top spot in the Atlantic Division.

James Harden's 26 points paced the Rockets, who were without center Dwight Howard (back) and point guard Patrick Beverley (knee). Houston's lead over idle Portland for fourth spot in the West slipped to one game, while the loss allowed San Antonio to clinch the Southwest Division title.

Six quick points from Terrence Ross put Toronto up by double digits early in the third quarter, and the lead grew to as much as 20 before the Rockets rallied behind 3-pointers from Omri Casspi, Isaiah Canaan and Jeremy Lin to go into the fourth trailing 90-80. Houston held Toronto to one field goal over the opening 4:30 of the final period to climb to within one, but Ross knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:05 remaining and the Rockets wouldn't threaten again.

Toronto looked disjointed without Lowry in the early going, falling behind by double digits on Harden's driving layup before storming back with a quarter-ending 13-4 run capped by a Greivis Vasquez 3-pointer. DeRozan took over in the second, scoring Toronto's final nine points - including a 32-foot desperation heave at the buzzer - to send the Raptors into the break with a 55-50 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Lowry, who missed his first start of the year, is averaging 17.4 points, 7.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds on the season. Vasquez started in his place and finished with 15 points and eight assists. ... Houston won the rebounding battle 47-36 while outscoring Toronto 50-36 in the paint. ... Houston C Omer Asik had nine points and 15 rebounds, and has hauled down 49 boards over his last three games.