Rockets 110, Pacers 100: James Harden hit his first 18 free throws en route to 44 points as visiting Houston won for the fourth time in five games.

Josh Smith scored 18 points and Donatas Motiejunas had 17 for the Rockets, who stayed within 2 1/2 games of Memphis in the race for second place in the Western Conference. Corey Brewer chipped in 11 points off the bench for Houston, which made 13-of-24 3-pointers and 35-of-37 free throws, including a 21-of-22 effort for Harden.

C.J. Watson led slumping Indiana with 23 points while George Hill added 20 in the squad's sixth straight loss, which dropped the Pacers a game out in the race for the final playoff spot in the East. Roy Hibbert contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds as Indiana lost its fourth in a row at home.

Harden hit all nine of his free throws in a 15-point first quarter - matching Indiana's entire output for the period - and Houston led by as many as 21 in the first half before settling for a 53-39 halftime advantage on Harden's buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Four different Pacers scored in a 9-0 burst midway through the third and Damjan Rudez scored five points in a 7-0 burst that pulled Indiana within 68-66 moments later.

Motiejunas beat the buzzer with a triple to give the Rockets a 76-68 lead after three and Harden hit another with 7:19 left - Houston's first field goal after 10 free throws to start the fourth - to make it 89-78. After Watson knocked down a jumper to cut Indiana's deficit to seven points, Harden made a turnaround with just under a minute to go to give the Rockets a safe 103-94 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Hibbert was handed a technical foul for arguing from the bench in the second quarter, Rockets C Joey Dorsey had one early in the third and Hill and Rockets G Jason Terry were given double technicals for jawing later in the period. ... Rockets PG Patrick Beverley had eight points before leaving the game with a left wrist sprain. ... Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird said Monday he expects injured star Paul George to "play this year," but no updated timetable was given.