Chase Budinger scored 27 points on 8-of-11 shooting in his first start of the season as the Houston Rockets easily dispatched the visiting New Jersey Nets, 123-108, on Saturday.

Kevin Martin added 30 points and Luis Scola chipped in 23 points and seven rebounds for the Rockets, who have won three straight to pull within four games of the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference.

Houston made its moves at the end of second and third quarters, getting eight points from Budinger during a 12-2 run closing the second to turn a three-point lead into a 71- 58 gap at the break. A 12-4 spurt at the end of the third quarter, highlighted by a driving dunk from Budinger, pushed the lead out to 99-82.

The Nets would get no closer than 14 points in the fourth as Scola took over for the Rockets, pouring in 11 points in the frame to put it away.

Deron Williams collected 15 points and 17 assists in his second game for the Nets, who have dropped five straight and fell to 4-27 on the road.