NBA Roundup For Wednesday, January 9th

UNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers looked like they could survive the absences of starters Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol (pow-gah-SAHL') as they took a 14-point lead in the first half of Tuesday's game at Houston. But the Rockets rallied for their fifth straight win as James Harden scored 31 points and Chandler Parsons added 20 in a 125-112 win over the Lakers.

Harden reached the 25-point mark for the 13th consecutive game to help the Rockets send the Lakers to their fourth straight loss.

Jeremy Lin chipped in 19 points, six rebounds and five assists for Houston, while Carlos Delfino also contributed 19.

Metta World Peace had a season-high 24 points for the 15-19 Lakers.

It was a rather eventful day for Brooklyn Nets forward Andray Blatche (AHN'-dray blach).

Blatche scored 20 points and had seven rebounds as the Nets whipped the 76ers 109-89 in Philadelphia.

Blatche was in action hours after he was questioned by Philadelphia police as part of a sexual assault investigation at an upscale hotel Tuesday morning. Blatche was not charged, and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said preliminary findings of the investigation show Blatche was not involved.

Reggie Evans grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds and Deron Williams scored 22 points as the Nets won their fourth in a row.

Elsewhere in the NBA, Miami was held to a season-low in points as Indiana downed the Heat 87-77. Paul George had 29 points and 11 rebounds in the Pacers' 11th victory in 13 games.

Brandon Jennings shot 5-for-7 from three-point range and finished with a game-high 29 points and nine assists as Milwaukee beat Phoenix 108-99. The Bucks ended a four-game losing streak in their first game under interim coach Jim Boylan, who took over Tuesday morning after the team and Scott Skiles agreed to part ways.

Nikola Pekovic had 25 points and a career-high 18 rebounds as Minnesota topped Atlanta 108-103. Andrei Kirilenko added 21 points for the Timberwolves, who were missing coach Rick Adelman due to personal reasons.

Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao (VAR'-eh-zhow) still has not been cleared to practice or play because of a bruised right knee. Varejao will miss his 11th straight game when the Cavs host Atlanta Wednesday. The NBA's leading rebounder has been out since hurting his knee Dec. 18 against Toronto. The Cavs originally thought Varejao would only miss a couple games, but the injury has lingered.