Rockets 107, Pelicans 98: Dwight Howard collected 24 points and 18 rebounds and James Harden scored 21 points as Houston outlasted visiting New Orleans.

Chandler Parsons scored 19 points and Terrence Jones added 17 points and eight boards for the Rockets, who have won three straight. Howard, who struggled to two points and six rebounds while battling a stiff back on Thursday, went 10-of-12 from the field in 42 minutes.

Ryan Anderson had 22 points and 12 boards while Anthony Davis contributed 18 points and 16 rebounds to pace the Pelicans. Tyreke Evans chipped in 16 points and nine assists off the bench as New Orleans (13-15) missed an opportunity to reach .500.

Jeremy Lin knocked down a tying 3-pointer with 3:39 left and Harden connected from beyond the arc on the next possession to put the Rockets on top. Howard hit a pair of free throws and Lin’s steal led to a layup for Harden that made it a six-point gap before Harden’s jumper with 22 seconds left clinched it.

The Rockets used a 13-2 run closing the first quarter to grab a 31-22 lead at the end of the period but the Pelicans came right back in the second and it went into the half knotted at 52. It went back and forth in the second half, with New Orleans grabbing a 94-91 lead on Davis‘ jumper with 3:58 to play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Pelicans C Jason Smith (knee) returned from a three-game absence and had 10 points in 15 minutes off the bench but G Eric Gordon (hip) missed his second straight game. … New Orleans G Jrue Holiday struggled to three points on 1-of-9 shooting to snap a string of 19 straight games scoring in double figures. … The Rockets hit 6-of-26 3-pointers, with Harden going just 1-for-7.