JAMES HARDEN and the Houston Rockets used their defense to get back on track.

    Harden had 38 points, eight assists and six rebounds, helping the Rockets beat the Milwaukee Bucks 111-92 Wednesday night.

    Houston had dropped three for four, but it recorded a season-high 12 blocked shots and held Milwaukee to 39.8 percent shooting.

    “That was the key to the game,’’ Harden said. “I think we’re realizing that in order for us to get to where we want to go, we have to get stops. When we get stops, we are 10 times better.’’

    Harden drilled a straightaway 3-pointer with six minutes left to give Houston a 13-point lead and shimmied his shoulders down the court in a celebratory dance as the Bucks called timeout.

    Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks for Milwaukee, which struggled to score in the first half. Jabari Parker scored 15 points on 5-for-15 shooting, and reserve Michael Beasley had 14 points and eight boards.

    Antetokounmpo was visibly frustrated after he was called for goaltending on a chase-down block of Harden as the game slipped away late in the fourth quarter.

    “I’ve got to do a better job of playing harder, especially in the fourth quarter,’’ Antetokounmpo said. “We could have had that game today, but we gave it away.’’

    Houston shooting guard Eric Gordon recaptured his touch after struggling from the field while playing on a tweaked ankle in the Rockets’ 109-103 loss in Miami on Tuesday night. Gordon went 7 for 17 from the 3-point range and finished with 25 points.

    The Rockets played without sharp-shooting power forward Ryan Anderson, who was sidelined by the flu for the second straight game. They missed his long-range presence, going 4 for 20 from beyond the arc in the first half before finishing 14 for 44.

    (SD-Agencies)