MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Yao Ming scored 27 points and Steve Francis added 25 for Houston, which had lost eight straight on the road.

Minnesota had a chance to tie the game with 3.4 seconds left, but Troy Hudson's 3-pointer hit the front of the rim. The Timberwolves got a second chance with 3.1 seconds left after Adrian Griffin missed two free throws, but Kevin Garnett's straightaway 3-point attempt was way off.

Cuttino Mobley had 18 points and Maurice Taylor added 16 off the bench for Houston.

Garnett had 32 points and 18 rebounds, and Sam Cassell had 25 points and 13 assists to lead Minnesota. The Timberwolves lost for just the third time in 12 games.

Spurs 113, Mavericks 100

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Tony Parker scored 25 points, Hedo Turkoglu added 21 and the San Antonio Spurs put together two big first-half runs and then held off a fourth-quarter comeback.

Dirk Nowitzki, held to four points in the first three periods, went 7-for-9 in the fourth for 17 points as the Mavericks slashed a 26-point deficit to 95-90 with nearly three minutes remaining.

Rasho Nesterovic hit Malik Rose with a pass for a layup, then blocked Antawn Jamison's reverse layup. Manu Ginobili was fouled on the same play and made both free throws to put San Antonio ahead 103-92.

Malik Rose added 18 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio, which played its fourth straight game without top scorer and rebounder Tim Duncan. Nesterovic had his fourth straight double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.

Cavaliers 88, Hornets 85

NEW ORLEANS (AP) LeBron James scored 19 points and Carlos Boozer had 18.

James hit a 3-pointer with 1:22 left to put Cleveland ahead 84-83, and Boozer made a pair of free throws with 6 seconds remaining for the final margin.

Jamal Mashburn _ who made a late 3 to force overtime in a Hornets' victory Wednesday night _ had a chance to do it again, but this time his long-range fade was off the mark.

Tony Battie added 12 points for the Cavaliers, while Jeff McInnis had 11 assists. Baron Davis led New Orleans with 26 points, hitting four 3-pointers.

New Orleans was looking to avenge a blown 25-point lead in a 104-100 loss at Cleveland on Feb. 23. Instead, Cleveland coach Paul Silas, fired by the Hornets after last season, got his third victory over New Orleans in four games.

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