Trevor Ariza bothered the New Orleans Pelicans with his defense, but he beat them with his offense.

Ariza had a season-high 31 points and James Harden scored 35, leading the hot-shooting Houston Rockets past the shorthanded New Orleans Pelicans 112-111 on Monday night.

The Pelicans played the second half without All-Star forward Anthony Davis, who had only nine points on 4-of-9 shooting with Ariza as his primary defender before leaving late in the second quarter after being elbowed in the head by teammate Tyreke Evans.