Houston Rockets Team Report - March 1

(Basketball News) - The Houston Rockets had their two-game winning streak stopped on Sunday, as they found themselves on the wrong end of a 97-80 decision against the Seattle SuperSonics at the Toyota Center.

The Rockets were led by 15 points from Steve Francis and 14 apiece from Jim Jackson and Yao Ming. Kelvin Cato also grabbed 11 rebounds in the loss.

Seattle held a 68-57 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but Houston used a 14-3 run to pull even at 71-71 on Mark Jackson’s bucket inside the 6:00 mark.

However, the Rockets scored just nine more points the rest of the way, as Seattle ended the game with a 26-9 burst, scoring 12 straight after the 71-71 tie to take an 83-71 advantage on Rashard Lewis’ three-point play around the 3:00 mark.

The Rockets never got closer than 10 the rest of the way and slipped to 21-9 at the Toyota Center for the season. . Houston has had the same starting lineup 56 of their 59 games this season, the most since 1993-94, when they won the first of two straight NBA titles.

Houston, which has won nine of their last 13 home games, will return to action on Wednesday when they host Shaquille O’Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets have gotten the better of the Lakers in both meetings this season and have won four of the last six meetings. LA, though, has won four of its last six in Houston.