Luis Scola had 25 points and eight rebounds and Kyle Lowry scored 20 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 99-90 victory over the host Denver Nuggets on Monday.

Chase Budinger added 16 points and made four 3-point baskets as Houston won for only the second time in five games.

Danilo Gallinari and Rudy Fernandez scored 14 points apiece for the shorthanded Nuggets, who have lost three straight games and five of six.

Denver was without three starters and lost Gallinari in the third quarter with an injury to his left ankle.

The Nuggets played without starters Nene (left heel), Arron Afflalo (right big toe, left ankle) and Timofey Mozgov (ankle) and valuable reserve Corey Brewer (father’s death).

Lowry had five 3-pointers as Houston was 10 for 19 from behind the arc. The Nuggets hit only 3 of 22 3-point attempts.

The game was back-and-forth through three quarters and Houston entered the final quarter with a 73-71 lead thanks to Budinger’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

The Rockets began the fourth quarter with a 9-2 spurt to take an 82-73 lead on Patrick Patterson’s bucket with 8:38 remaining and led the rest of the way.

Ty Lawson added 13 points and seven assists, Al Harrington had 12 points and 15 rebounds, and Andre Miller scored 12 points for Denver.

Scola had 16 first-half points and the Rockets led 47-45 at intermission.