LOS ANGELES (AP) — James Harden had 37 points and eight rebounds, and the Houston Rockets rolled to a 99-87 victory over the Lakers on Sunday night, sending Los Angeles to its eighth straight defeat. Harden hit four 3-pointers, and the NBA's leading scorer added five assists in the Rockets' third victory in four games. Josh Smith and Jason Terry had 11 points apiece as Houston cruised to its fourth straight road victory over the Lakers even without Dwight Howard, who sat out after injuring his right ankle two days ago. Rookie Jordan Clarkson had eight points on 2-for-10 shooting and five turnovers in his second start for the Lakers, while Jeremy Lin had 14 points and six assists off the bench after being a healthy scratch in Friday's loss at San Antonio. Coach Byron Scott hasn't given up optimism for an eventual return by the third-leading scorer in NBA history. At least his absence spared him the relentless booing he'll likely face from Lakers fans for the rest of his career after he spurned the club in free agency in 2013.