The 76ers hadn't won four in a row since last March 11-17.
Houston was in control much of the game, but the 76ers broke from a 60-47 deficit early in the third quarter and took the lead for good 90-88 with 4:42 to play on a basket by Andre Iguodala.
Aaron Brooks scored 34 points for the Rockets and led a second quarter-surge that gave the Rockets a 57-47 halftime lead.
Iguodala had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Elton Brand added 13 points.
Kyle Lowry scored 14 points and Carl Landry had 13 for Houston.
The 76ers were trailing 76-66 with 1:41 left in the third quarter before they went on a 24-12 run. Rodney Carney's basket with 9:30 to play gave the 76ers their first lead since the second quarter, and Iguodala later put the Rockets ahead for good.
Brooks snapped the Rockets out of a sluggish first quarter with 17 of his 19 first-half points in the second quarter, helping the Rockets to a 57-47 lead at halftime.
The 76ers were the early aggressors, jumping to a 22-9 lead in the first quarter, but the Rockets started a rally late in the first period. Houston cut the Philadelphia lead to 26-22 by the end of the period.
Then, Brooks led the charge in the second quarter and the Rockets opened a 45-32 lead with 5:32 to play in the period after a 34-10 run. The 13-point lead was Houston's biggest of the first half.
Brooks' basket with 8:47 to play in the second quarter gave Houston its first lead of the game at 31-30. Brooks had four 3-point baskets in the second quarter.
NOTES: The 76ers hold a 64-62 all-time record against the Rockets. ... Brooks has hit at least one 3-point basket in his last 22 games. ... Dalembert extended his consecutive string of 10 or more rebounds to 14 games with 10 against the Rockets. ... It was the Rockets' first home loss in February in more than two seasons, after compiling a 17-0 record over that span.
