Harden, Rockets beat Cavs without Howard

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Jarrett Jack (1) tries to pass to Matthew Dellavedova (8), from Australia, but is intercepted by Houston Rockets’ Jeremy Lin (7) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 22, 2014, in Cleveland. Houston Rockets’ Donatas Motiejunas (20), from Lithuania, watches. AP

CLEVELAND  — James Harden scored 37 points, including 17 in the third quarter, and the Houston Rockets led from wire-to-wire in a 118-111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.

Harden was 9 of 15 from the field, hit five 3-pointers, made all 14 of his free throws and had 11 assists without playing the fourth quarter after Houston built a 29-point lead late in the third.

Rockets center Dwight Howard missed his third straight game with a sore left ankle, but Houston is undefeated in the eight-time All-Star’s absence.

Cleveland has lost four straight and played again without point guard Kyrie Irving, who has been sidelined for three games with a strained left biceps.

Houston made its first four shots and took a quick lead in snapping a three-game road losing streak. The Rockets also strengthened their on the fourth spot in the Western Conference playoff race.

Chandler Parsons scored 16 points for Houston while Patrick Beverly added 15.

Dion Waiters led Cleveland with 26 points. Tyler Zeller added a career-high 23 points for the Cavaliers, who also played without forward Luol Deng (sprained left ankle).

The Rockets played their reserves for most of the fourth and Cleveland cut into the margin.

Harden had eight points and eight assists in the first quarter, which saw Cleveland coach Mike Brown call timeout twice in the first four minutes as Houston took a 17-4 lead.

The margin reached 15 points in the second period and Houston shot 59 percent in the first half.

Cleveland scored the first seven points of the third quarter to cut the lead to 67-62, but Harden’s five free throws sparked a 9-0 run and the Rockets regained control. His four-point play pushed the lead to 87-70.

Harden hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key moments later, then added a dunk and another 3-pointer as the lead reached 101-72.

Howard returned to practice Friday and participated in Saturday morning’s shootaround, but didn’t dress for the game. He played in each of Houston’s first 66 games, but was a late scratch Monday, had a cyst removed from the ankle the following day and didn’t play Thursday.

“I don’t think he feels quite good enough to play, but he feels much better,” Houston coach Kevin McHale said before the game.

Howard scored 26 points and had six rebounds in the Rockets’ 106-92 win over Cleveland on Feb. 1. He averages 18.6 points and 12.4 rebounds for the season.

Injuries and a brutal schedule have dropped Cleveland out of playoff contention. The Cavaliers are 2-8 in March and trail Atlanta by 6 1/2 games for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland, which has also dropped games to the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami and Oklahoma City in the streak, has lost eight of 10.

The difficult schedule continues Sunday when the Cavaliers travel to New York, which has won eight in a row. Cleveland was routed 113-86 on Jan. 30 at Madison Square Garden.

The Rockets have won four straight and six of their last seven against the Cavaliers.

Seth Curry, signed by Cleveland to a 10-day contract Friday, scored three points in eight minutes. He’s the younger brother of Warriors star point guard Stephen Curry.