James Harden scored 21 of his 26 points in the second half, returning from a bruised left knee to help the Rockets nearly rally from a 21-point, third-quarter deficit. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored a season-high 28 for Detroit, which snapped a four-game skid and ended Houston's four-game winning streak. The Pistons were coming off an embarrassing 20-point loss at Philadelphia, and they were sharp throughout against Houston's normally tough defense. Detroit won for the first time since losing point guard Brandon Jennings last weekend to a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Pistons played well initially after cutting Smith, winning seven straight, and fans gave him an unfriendly welcome in his return, booing him when he went to the scorer's table to check in for the first time and also when he touched the ball.