Clippers Let It Slip Away at End

HOUSTON — After defeating quality opponents -- Minnesota and Dallas -- in successive games, the Houston Rockets nearly stumbled against the Clippers.

Steve Francis had 24 points, and Yao Ming scored eight of his 19 points in a fourth-quarter rally, and the Rockets beat the Clippers, 90-85, Tuesday night.

“The important thing was, at the key moments we were able to pick it up,” Yao said.

The Rockets earned their third consecutive victory and their fifth in a row over the Clippers, but it took a fourth-quarter spurt to do it.

“There was some ugly, there was some pretty,” guard Mark Jackson said. “The main thing is just getting the job done. And the good news is we’re doing that now.”

Trailing, 73-71, in the fourth quarter, Houston got the ball on a turnover by Bobby Simmons, and Yao’s basket tied the score with 8 minutes 20 seconds to play.

A bad pass by Eddie House gave the Rockets their chance to go ahead, and Yao dunked for a 75-73 lead.

The Rockets never trailed again, sending the Clippers to their seventh loss in nine games.

Corey Maggette led the Clippers with 26 points, and Elton Brand had 16.

“Our team did a lot of good things on defense, but turnovers hurt us and the guys that were out hurt us,” Maggette said. “Steve Francis made some great plays for them, and Mark Jackson did a good job off the bench.”

Francis, in a shooting slump this season, made 10 of 15 shots, helping the Rockets overcome a slow shooting start.

“Steve’s effort is what carried us,” Coach Jeff Van Gundy said. “His hustle plays and his extra effort were just terrific.”

The Rockets trailed, 63-56, late in the third quarter but scored nine consecutive points, ending with Francis’ three-point basket with four seconds left for a 65-63 lead.

Yao, though, presented too many problems for the Clippers.

“There is nothing you can do against him,” said center Chris Kaman, who fouled out in the fourth quarter.

“If you beat him up, he’s a good free-throw shooter, so he gets to the line and makes them. If you don’t beat him up, he’s tough to stop.”