Houston 109, Golden State 83

ROCKETS 109, WARRIORS 83: Chandler Parsons recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds and Goran Dragic had another strong game as Houston gained ground in the Western Conference playoff race.

Dragic collected 17 points and nine assists and Samuel Dalembert added 15 points and 10 boards for the eighth-place Rockets, who sit a half-game behind seventh-place Denver and one game behind the fifth-place Los Angeles Clippers.

Playing once again without the starting backcourt of Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin, Houston went to the inside early and attacked the basket with Parsons and Luis Scola. The two combined for 16 points in the first quarter as the Rockets jumped out to a 30-18 lead.

The Warriors briefly made it interesting in the second, pulling to within 37-35, but Dragic and Parsons hit back-to-back 3-pointers to stop the rally.

Scola, who finished with 18 points and seven assists, scored the first five points of the third as the Rockets opened with a 10-0 run that pushed the lead to 19 points. Golden State never again got it back to within single digits.

Warriors rookie Klay Thompson entered the game averaging 20 points in six games since taking over Monta Ellis’ old spot in the starting lineup but was held to 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting on Thursday.

Richard Jefferson led Golden State with 14 points off the bench.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rockets dominated the glass, 48-31. … Golden State shot 41.5 percent from the floor, with the backcourt rotation of Thompson, Nate Robinson and Brandon Rush combining to shoot 35.4 (11 for 31). … Thursday broke a 10-game streak of scoring at least 90 points for the Warriors.

• Houston will play their next game at home against Dallas. The Rockets have a W/L % of .560 after a win and .522 after a loss.
• Golden State will play their next game at home against Sacramento. The Warriors have a W/L % of .421 after a win and .423 after a loss.