Rockets 98, Spurs 81: Dwight Howard racked up 32 points and 16 rebounds as host Houston routed shorthanded San Antonio to remain undefeated.

James Harden collected 20 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Rockets, who have won each of their first six games by double digits. Jason Terry chipped in 16 points off the bench and Isaiah Canaan added 12 as Houston notched its sixth straight win over San Antonio.

Cory Joseph scored 18 points off the bench and Aron Baynes collected 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who sat aging stars Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili for the second game of a back-to-back and were without center Tiago Splitter because of a calf injury. Danny Green added 10 points but was 0-for-6 from 3-point range as San Antonio finished 2-of-20 from behind the arc.

The Rockets led from start to finish, scoring the first seven points while holding San Antonio scoreless for nearly six minutes to start the game. The Spurs were within 18-17 early in the second quarter before Houston hit its offensive rhythm, and Terry converted a four-point play during an 8-0 run that helped the Rockets begin pulling away.

San Antonio had another drought of six-plus minutes without a field goal in the second quarter and shot just 25 percent while limping to a 45-29 halftime deficit. The lead reached as large as 31 late in the third quarter before Houston coasted to the finish.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Howard became the first player in the NBA this season to collect at least 20 points and 10 rebounds before halftime. … Lead official Bennett Salvatore suffered a pulled hamstring in the first half and was unable to continue. … The Spurs were 0-for-12 from 3-point range in the first half, the most 3-point attempts they have recorded without making one in any half during coach Gregg Popovich's tenure.