HOUSTON (AP) Cuttino Mobley scored 31 points and equaled a season high with six 3-pointers as the Houston Rockets beat the New Orleans Hornets 97-86 for their fourth straight victory Thursday night.

With the Rockets leading 23-21 early in the second quarter, Mobley scored 13 straight Rockets points as part of a 17-4 surge that put Houston in control.

Yao Ming had four points, a blocked shot and two fouls in the first five minutes of the game. He sat out the rest of the opening period and New Orleans outscored Houston 8-4 over the closing minutes for a 21-21 tie. Yao finished with 17 points and five fouls.

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