NBA: Houston 95, Oklahoma City 90

HOUSTON, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Trevor Ariza scored 31 points Saturday in Houston's 95-90 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Ariza, on the floor for 47 grueling minutes, hit five 3-point shots and pulled down eight rebounds.

Luis Scola added 16 points for the Rockets and Shane Battier and Chuck Hayes each tallied 13.

Jeff Green led the Thunder with 21 points and eight rebounds. James Harden and Russell Westbrook chipped in 15 points apiece.

Oklahoma City kept nipping at the Rockets' heels in the home stretch. Kevin Durant hit a 3-point shot that cut the Houston lead to 94-90 with 1:04 to play. But the Rockets grabbed two key offensive rebounds and Aaron Brooks sank a final free throw to put the game on ice.