Rockets 121, Kings 100: James Harden poured in 29 points to go with nine assists and Jeremy Lin added 15 points as host Houston cruised to its ninth win in its past 11 meetings with Sacramento.

Omer Asik collected 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets, who moved into a tie with Golden State for sixth place in the Western Conference. Houston holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Warriors. Chandler Parsons returned to the lineup after missing four games with a strained right calf and contributed 13 points in 27 minutes.

Travis Outlaw scored 15 points and fellow reserve Cole Aldrich set career highs with 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Kings, who have lost six of their last seven. Sacramento shot 35.3 percent in the first half and 39 percent for the game.

The Rockets trailed only twice in the early going, and Harden scored five points during an 11-2 spurt that put Houston ahead for good. The lead was 33-24 after one quarter, and the Kings pulled within four midway through the second quarter before the Rockets closed the half on a 14-0 run and led 62-44 at the break.

Houston's lead never dipped below 18 in the second half despite the Rockets resting their starters for the entire fourth quarter in preparation for the second game of a back-to-back Monday at Phoenix.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Harden needs 23 points to become the fifth Rockets player to score 2,000 points in a season, joining Elvin Hayes, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon and Tracy McGrady. … The Kings have made six or more 3-pointers in 26 consecutive games, and the Rockets have made six or more 3s in 25 straight contests. … Houston has topped 100 points in six of its past seven games and 55 of 80 this season.