Rockets 117, Grizzlies 111 (OT): James Harden had 32 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds and Dwight Howard hit four critical free throws in overtime as Houston overcame an early deficit to beat host Memphis.

Josh Smith played in his first game since joining Houston as a free agent and had 21 points and eight assists for the Rockets, who shot 14-of-34 from the arc and outrebounded Memphis 54-44. Trevor Ariza added 15 points and four 3-pointers as Houston won for the ninth time in 12 games.

Marc Gasol had 29 points on 12-of-21 shooting for the Grizzlies, who lost their fourth straight while playing a third consecutive game without star forward Zach Randolph (knee). Beno Udrih had a season-high 17 points and fellow reserve Quincy Pondexter contributed a season-high 14 as Memphis couldn't match Houston from the arc, hitting just 7-of-24.

Ariza drained a 3-pointer and Howard, a 51.5 percent free-throw shooter, made his free throws in overtime, the final two with 19 seconds left that provided Houston a 115-111 lead. Vince Carter missed a contested 3-pointer at the other end and Harden capped the victory with a slam dunk for the final margin.

Carter capped a 13-2 run with a pair of 3-pointers that gave Memphis a 104-102 lead with 28 seconds left, but Harden beat Tayshaun Prince on a drive down the lane with 15 ticks left for the tie before Gasol missed an 18-footer as regulation ended. Gasol scored 11 first-quarter points as Memphis forged a seven-point lead that soared to 14 in the second, but Houston got a pair of 3-pointers apiece from Corey Brewer and Jason Terry and another from Harden to forge a 10-point lead with 4 1/2 minutes left.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Smith did not start for the Rockets but entered three minutes in when Howard picked up his second foul. … Howard scored only six points but had 11 rebounds. … Houston won for the second time in the last nine games here.