Josh Smith immediately paid dividends for the Houston Rockets, while the Memphis Grizzlies remained spiraling on their longest losing streak of the season.
Smith, who signed earlier in the day, scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds Friday night as the Rockets beat Memphis 117-111 in overtime.
"We knew what he brought to the table," said James Harden, who led the Rockets with 32 points and 10 assists. "All he has to do is go out there and play his game."
The Rockets held a 111-109 lead with 1:18 left in overtime when Harden missed a 17-footer. Smith grabbed the offensive rebound, leading to a miss by Trevor Ariza, only to have Smith corral another offensive rebound.
Smith was fouled and converted both free throws, padding the Rockets' lead.
"When you're a professional, and you've played a lot of years, it's not that hard," Smith said of joining a new team, "especially since you know a lot of the guys in the locker room. They helped me out when I was kind of lost our there."
Ariza finished with 15 points, while Corey Brewer added 13. Patrick Beverley had 12 points for the Rockets, who took over the top spot in the Western Conference's Southwest Division from Memphis.
Dwight Howard had only six points, but connected on all four of his free throws in overtime. He grabbed 11 rebounds.
Marc Gasol led Memphis with 29 points, while Beno Udrih contributed 17. Quincy Pondexter scored 14, and Vince Carter had 10, including a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to fuel a Memphis rally.
The teams were tied at 104 at the end of regulation after Gasol's jumper at the end of the fourth bounced away.
In overtime, Howard opened the scoring by converting a pair of free throws, banking in the second. Ariza followed with a 3-pointer.
The Grizzlies got within two points on several occasions in overtime, but couldn't overtake the Rockets as Memphis dropped its fourth straight.
The Rockets scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to take the lead, as Memphis missed eight shots to open the period. The Rockets still led 100-91 when Harden converted a pair of free throws with just under 4 minutes left in regulation.
Memphis countered with 10 unanswered points to retake the lead. Carter connected on consecutive 3-pointers before Harden's drive with 15.5 seconds remaining tied the game at 104. Carter lost the ball on a drive with 0.6 seconds left, but it was ruled out on Howard after an extended review by officials.
Gasol got off a jumper as regulation ended, but it bounced off sending the game to overtime.
"We did not do a good job of executing," Gasol said, "and they got more shots than us at the end. We did not do a good job of executing our plays and that happens."
