NBA: Rockets edge Pelicans in Howard's return

The Houston Rockets capped a good-news, bad-news kind of day with a 95-93 NBA victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. The Rockets welcomed Dwight Howard back from a two-month absence with swelling in his right knee. The 29-year-old center, who missed 26 games, played just under 17 minutes, scoring four points and pulling down seven rebounds with one blocked shot. "I felt pretty good," Howard said. "It was kind of an adjustment period for me, but I'm happy to be back out there." Just as they welcomed back Howard, however, Rockets coach Kevin McHale said Wednesday that Patrick Beverley's wrist injury will sideline him for up to 10 days before he is re-evaluated. Multiple media reports suggested Beverley could have a torn ligament that could require season-ending surgery. "He is going to meet more people today and get a final determination as to what is going to happen," McHale said of Beverley. "There probably won't be any major decisions made for a week (to) 10 days." James Harden led the Rockets with 25 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Trevor Ariza had 22 points with nine rebounds and five assists, while Donatas Motiejunas added 21 points and eight rebounds for Houston. The Pelicans got 28 points from Tyreke Evans, but dropped their fourth straight games. "It's a tough loss. That's what it is, a tough loss," said New Orleans coach Monty Williams, whose team led by as many as 17 in the first half.