Rockets 101, Bucks 95: Dwight Howard scored 27 points in his fifth straight game with 20 or more as visiting Houston withstood a late charge from Milwaukee to record its fifth consecutive win.

James Harden registered 22 points and Jeremy Lin contributed 18 for the Rockets, who have won eight of their last 10 and improved to 13-4 in 2014. Patrick Beverley chipped in with 15 points and Howard added a game-high 13 rebounds along with five assists and two blocks.

Brandon Knight's 23 points led the offense for the Bucks, who remain without back-to-back wins on the season. Khris Middleton collected 20 points and a career-high eight assists while Nate Wolters established a new career best with 19 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists.

The Rockets scored the game's first seven points before Milwaukee woke up, ultimately using seven first-quarter offensive rebounds to convert 11 second-chance points before finishing the opening frame down 29-26. Houston extended its lead to as many as 15 in the second stanza, outscoring the Bucks 27-19 in the period for a 56-45 halftime lead, paced by 13 points from Beverley and 10 each from Harden and Howard.

The Rockets answered a 12-2 Milwaukee run to start the third quarter, dominating the rest of the frame on the way to an 81-69 lead entering the fourth. The Bucks cut an 11-point deficit to just three with 46.6 seconds remaining after Middleton sank a trio of free throws, but Howard converted 3-of-4 from the line in the waning seconds to allow Houston to escape with the win.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Houston is 7-3 in its last 10 visits to Milwaukee. ... Bucks C Larry Sanders, who set a career high with 25 points last time out, left the game after being poked in the eye early in the first quarter and did not return due to blurred vision. ... Rockets C Omer Asik (knee, thigh) played for the first time since Dec. 2, recording five rebounds and two assists in just under 11 minutes off the bench.