Rockets 99, Mavericks 94: Josh Smith matched a career high with four 3-pointers en route to 18 points off the bench as Houston held off visiting Dallas.

James Harden contributed 17 points and eight assists and Donatas Motiejunas scored 16 for the Rockets, who have won three straight. Corey Brewer added 14 points and Terrence Jones (leg) played for the first time since Nov. 3 and chipped in 10 points in a reserve role for Houston.

Monta Ellis stayed hot with 33 points but the Mavericks dropped their season-high fourth straight game. Chandler Parsons scored 21 points and Tyson Chandler grabbed 15 rebounds but missed a pair of free throws with 16 seconds left as Dallas struggled down the stretch.

Smith’s 3-pointer put the Rockets in front 95-87 with 2:56 to play but Parsons responded from beyond the arc and Ellis knocked down a pair of free throws to pull the Mavericks within three a minute later. Smith hit a layup out of a timeout and blocked a shot at the other end before Dirk Nowitzki’s layup cut it back to 97-94, but Dallas wasted an opportunity when Harden was called for a flagrant foul and Houston closed it at the line.

Smith knocked down a 3-pointer to send the Rockets into the break with a 54-53 lead and the advantage spread to six points when Trevor Ariza knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:16 left in the third. Ellis scored in the final seconds of the period to cut it to 81-78 and Parson’s 3-pointer with 7:11 left drew the Mavericks within 88-85.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Houston C Dwight Howard (ankle) missed his second straight game and is day-to-day. … Harden attempted three free throws after hoisting up 58 in the previous four contests. … Ellis has gone over 30 points in two of the last three games and is shooting 57.6 percent from the field in that span.