Dwight Howard scores 22, grabs 10 boards in the rockets win

MEXICO CITY -- Feeling better after missing his first game of the season because of a flu-like virus, Dwight Howard promised to put on a show for his Mexican fans. And he delivered.

Howard, who missed Saturday's game against the Golden State Warriors, had 22 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday's 113-101 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He fed off the 18,996 fans at Arena Ciudad de Mexico for the first regular-season game played south of the border since 1997.

"It's a big honor to play in Mexico. We had an amazing time even though it was a super short trip. The last time we lost so I wanted to come back with a better effort," Howard said. "I've always wanted to come to Mexico. The fans were great. They were standing and cheering from warm-ups until the end...I wish I could play all of our games here in Mexico."

James Harden led the Rockets with 23 points and a team-high 10 assists, but was only 8 of 23 from the field.

Trevor Ariza added 19 points and Kostas Papanikolau scored a career-high 14 for the Rockets (7-1), who tied Memphis for the best record in the Western Conference.

"We want to be the best at the end of the year," Howard said. "The West is a tough Conference, but if we play hard, we can beat anybody. We want to hold the trophy at the end of the year. That*s what we talk about every day."