Rockets 101, Bulls 90: James Harden scored 27 points to help host Houston win for the fifth time in six games.

Trevor Ariza scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for the Rockets, who had just six turnovers. Donatas Motiejunas had 15 points and 10 rebounds while Josh Smith tied a season high with 13 boards off the bench for Houston.

Jimmy Butler scored 27 points and Derrick Rose added 23 to pace Chicago, which has lost a season-high three straight games and four of five overall. Pau Gasol recorded his 10th straight double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Joakim Noah hauled in a season-high 19 boards to help the Bulls claim a 60-47 advantage on the glass.

It was tied after one quarter before Harden erupted for 15 in the second - going 5-for-5 from the floor and 4-for-4 from the foul line - to push the Rockets ahead 57-48 at halftime. The NBA's leading scorer then missed each of his five shots in the third and the Bulls closed the period on an 8-2 run to pull within 75-70.

Houston restored order with the first 13 points of the fourth quarter - seven from Ariza - and Chicago failed to record a field goal in the stanza until Butler's basket with 6:28 left made it 90-75. The Bulls pulled within nine on another hoop by Butler with 1:48 to go but Ariza scored again and Harden buried a 3-pointer as the Rockets coasted to the finish line.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rockets announced that C Dwight Howard had an injection in his ailing right knee and will be re-evaluated in roughly four weeks. ... Bulls SF Mike Dunleavy (ankle) missed his 17th straight game. ... Noah was 0-of-8 from the floor and finished with one point as Chicago shot 34.8 percent.