Cuttino Mobley had 24 points and Steve Francis hit a 16-footer with 20 seconds left to lead the Houston Rockets to a 93-91 victory over Portland on Tuesday night, keeping the Trail Blazers winless on the road.

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming of China (11) calls for a time out after losing his balance as teammate Maurice Taylor (2), Portland Trail Blazers' Dale Davis (34) and Ruben Patterson (21) watch during the second quarter Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003, in Houston. [AP]

Yao Ming missed two free throws with nine seconds to play, giving the Blazers a last chance. But Damon Stoudamire missed a 3-pointer just before the final buzzer.

Yao had 16 points and eight rebounds. Francis added 15 points.

Zach Randolph had 31 points and Stoudamire led a comeback with eight of his 19 points in the fourth quarter for the Trail Blazers, who fell to 0-7 on the road.

After being down by 16 in the third quarter and 10 with 6:17 to play, the Trail Blazers outscored Houston 14-0 to take an 89-85 lead with three minutes to play.

The Rockets managed to tie it at 91-91 with 1:03 to play on two baskets by Yao and the Trail Blazers went cold. Rasheed Wallace missed a 14-footer with 40 seconds to play and Randolph missed a six-footer with 11 seconds left.

Jim Jackson's three-pointer capped an 8-0 streak that gave Houston a 59-44 lead with 7:32 left in the third quarter. Moments later, a 6-0 run behind Mobley's four points gave Houston it's biggest lead — 67-51.

Francis and Mobley each had 13 as Houston held a 72-60 lead after three.

Maurice Taylor had four points in a 9-2 run that gave Houston its biggest lead of the first half, 45-39 with 2:36 to play in the second quarter. Taylor had eight points in the quarter as the Rockets led 47-41 at the half.

Randolph had 19 at the half, including 12 in the first quarter as the teams went back and forth with neither leading by more than four.

Notes:@ The Rockets are 8-1 at the new Toyota Center ... Portland had won four straight and seven of eight against Houston before Tuesday.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Sports News
+Bush says he opposes referendum on Taiwan ( 2003-12-10) +Moon probe to blast off in 3 years ( 2003-12-08) +Working it out ( 2003-12-10) +Big cat nabbed on busy expressway ( 2003-12-09) +Tariff rate cuts to continue, official says ( 2003-12-09)		+Rockets blast Trail Blazers 93-91 ( 2003-12-10) +Celta Vigo beat AC Milan 2-1 ( 2003-12-10) +Besiktas lost to Chelsea 0-2 ( 2003-12-10) +Lazio, Ajax ousted in Champions League ( 2003-12-10) +Judge rejects bid to seal motions in Bryant case ( 2003-12-10)