By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) - James Harden scored 31 and Chandler Parsons added 20 to help the Houston Rockets pick up their fifth straight win, a 125-112 victory over the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night
Houston trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, but used a pair of runs in the third quarter to go on top and build a big lead.
Metta World Peace had a season-high 24 points for the Lakers, who were playing without their top three big men Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill - all out with injuries.
Kobe Bryant added 20 for the Lakers and Steve Nash had 16 as they tied a season-high with their fourth straight loss.
The Rockets have rallied from double-digit deficits for their last three wins.
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