Rockets 116, Cavaliers 78: James Harden scored 20 points and Omer Asik had 13 points and 11 rebounds as host Houston routed Cleveland.

Thomas Robinson scored 15 points, Chandler Parsons added 13 points and the Rockets shot 57.1 percent from the field while moving within a half-game of the sixth-place Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference playoff race.

Shaun Livingston scored 14 points and Wayne Ellington added 13 for the Cavaliers, who have lost five straight and nine of 11.

The Rockets led by 15 at halftime and dominated the third quarter with Patrick Beverley’s last-second 3-pointer giving Houston an 87-61 lead. The onslaught continued in the fourth quarter as the Rockets outscored the Cavaliers by 23 points in the second half.

Houston led by three points after one quarter and began opening up its lead in the second with a 12-4 run. The Rockets shot 56.4 percent and led 58-43 at the break.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The loss was Cleveland’s sixth straight in Houston. … Cavaliers G Dion Waiters (knee) missed his second consecutive game. … Houston had a 56-24 edge in points in the paint.