Rockets 87, Timberwolves 84: James Harden scored 17 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter as visiting Houston overcame a sluggish start to post its fifth straight win.

Down by a point with 44 seconds left, the Rockets put the ball in Harden's hands and were rewarded on back-to-back possessions. Harden converted a running layup to give Houston the lead, then extended the advantage on a deft finger roll after Jeremy Lin stole the ball from Timberwolves' guard J.J. Barea.

Alexey Shved missed the potential game-tying 3-pointer, allowing Houston to pull out the win despite shooting just 40.7 percent from the field and committing 17 turnovers. Barea led the Timberwolves with 18 points while Shved added 16.

Both teams struggled at the outset, with Chandler Parsons' 10-point outburst the difference as Houston led 22-17 after one. Derrick Williams hit two 3-pointers just over a minute apart to tie the game at 31 and Barea followed with seven straight Minnesota points as part of a 9-1 Timberwolves run that put them in front 47-44 at the break.

Minnesota extended the lead to 14 on a Luke Ridnour breakaway layup before the Rockets stormed back, holding the Timberwolves off the scoresheet for a five-minute stretch to cut the deficit to 64-61 entering the fourth. The Minnesota lead reached six before Harden took over, scoring nine straight Houston points and adding a driving layup that gave the Rockets an 83-82 edge with 2:14 remaining.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Houston came into the night with the league's most prolific offense and had averaged 119 points over its previous four games. ... Minnesota F Kevin Love returned from a one-game absence due to an eye injury. The All-Star shot just 3-of-14 from the field and finished with seven points and 12 rebounds. ... Houston C Omer Asik narrowly missed his fifth straight double-double, recording nine points and 17 rebounds.