Harden finished with 19 points on 5-of-17 shooting but added nine rebounds and five assists. Patrick Beverley, who returned after missing six of the last seven games with a hamstring injury, and Dwight Howard added 12 points apiece for Houston, which shot 28.8 percent, including 7-of-35 from the arc, but recorded 22 offensive rebounds in improving to 6-0 on the road.

Reggie Jackson and Lance Thomas had 15 points apiece for the Thunder, who matched a franchise low for points. Serge Ibaka had 10 points and five blocks and Steven Adams contributed a career-high six blocks for Oklahoma City, which shot 29.4 percent but recorded 15 blocked shots.

In a very physical fourth quarter which saw more flared tempers than jumpers made, Harden hit a straightaway 3-pointer after an offensive rebound for a 68-65 lead with 1:19 left. After the Thunder's Jeremy Lamb and Harden missed shots from the arc, Jackson missed a 30-footer as the clock wound down and Harden split two from the stripe to seal it.

In a sluggish first half, Houston pulled away late for a 42-33 lead behind 10 points and seven rebounds from Howard. The third quarter was much the same, as the Thunder held the Rockets to a season-low nine points on 3-of-18 shooting and forced six turnovers, including three shot clock violations, to pull even at 51-51.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rockets had lost all three of Harden's previous visits to his former team, as the bearded left-hander averaged 17.7 points on 30.3 shooting. ... The Rockets also started 9-1 in 1993-94 and 1994-95 and won titles both years. … In the fourth quarter, Thunder F Nick Collison drew a flagrant 1 foul, Thunder G Sebastian Telfair and Rockets F Trevor Ariza drew technicals and Harden took a shot to the nose on a foul by Jackson. ...