Rockets 113, Suns 111
James Harden capped a 33-point effort with a jumper at the buzzer as Houston snapped Phoenix's seven-game home winning streak in dramatic fashion.
The Rockets lost a 16-point lead in the final six-plus minutes and fell into a tie when Markieff Morris converted a three-point play for the Suns with 16.6 seconds left, but Harden dribbled out most of the clock before pulling up near the top of the key to bury the game-winner. Donatas Motiejunas scored 15 points and three others had 14 for Houston, which survived the loss of star center Dwight Howard to a sprained ankle in the first quarter.
Eric Bledsoe flirted with a triple-double by recording 25 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as the Suns fell to 4-1 on a season-long eight-game homestand. Isaiah Thomas had 22 points off the bench and Morris added 11 of his 21 in the fourth quarter.
Harden's first field goal of the second half capped a 6-1 burst and left Houston with a 102-86 advantage with just over six minutes to go, but Phoenix answered with nine straight points and a three-point play by Morris cut the Suns' deficit to 106-103 with 1:22 to go. Thomas hit a 3-pointer on the next possession and Morris answered two free throws by Harden with another three-point play to tie it before Harden delivered the dagger.
The Rockets led by as many as 12 points in the first quarter and used Harden's dunk in the closing seconds of the second to take a 60-52 lead into the locker room. Harden, who scored 18 points in the first half, did not have a basket in the third but made six free throws and handed out four assists as Houston went up 87-77 entering the fourth.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Suns F P.J. Tucker picked up a technical foul 27 seconds into the third quarter and G Goran Dragic was whistled for another midway through the period. ... Harden also led his team with 10 assists and three steals. ... PG Patrick Beverley, SG Corey Brewer and SF Josh Smith each had 14 points for Houston.