Nuggets 118, Rockets 110: Danilo Gallinari scored nine of his 27 points in a decisive run to begin the fourth quarter as host Denver knocked off Houston to earn its fifth straight win.

Kenneth Faried added 19 points and Ty Lawson scored 12 of his 16 in the fourth quarter for the Nuggets, who improved to 19-3 at home. Denver is 3-0 against the Rockets this season, including a 105-95 triumph in Houston eight days ago.

Jeremy Lin scored 22 points and James Harden and Chandler Parsons had 21 apiece as the Rockets had a three-game winning streak come to an end.

Houston entered the fourth quarter with an 86-83 lead but quickly watched it vanish as the Nuggets caught fire. Faried started the 18-4 burst to open the quarter with a bucket and a steal, and Gallinari hit a pair of 3-pointers in the run before Lawson capped it with another from beyond the arc.

The Rockets scored seven straight points to pull back within 101-95 but Gallinari hit a 3-pointer to end that surge and Lawson scored nine points in the final 2:18 to put the game away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Nuggets have averaged 113.4 points during their current winning streak. … Houston C Omer Asik recorded 10 points and 18 rebounds and is averaging 17.7 boards over the last three contests. … The Rockets missed 11 free throw attempts and went 8-of-27 from 3-point range.