Houston Rockets Team Report - March 23

(Basketball News) - The Rockets put their recent struggles behind them Monday night, as they posted a 93-85 overtime victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden.

Yao Ming and Steve Francis scored four points apiece to help the Rockets outscore Portland, 10-2, in the extra frame. Yao finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Francis scored 22 with 10 assists for the Rockets, who squandered a 17-point second-half lead before putting the game away in overtime to avoid their fourth straight loss.

A tough baseline layup by Yao with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter tied the game at 83-83 and sent it into overtime.

Cuttino Mobley registered 10 points, eight assists and five rebounds in the winning effort. Mobley hit 4-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-5 from long distance.

Francis was fined $25,000 by the NBA earlier Monday for profanity and remarks made about game officials during a television interview at halftime of the Rockets’ loss to Sacramento on Sunday.

The Rockets have won the last three meetings with Portland.

Houston has a day off before returning home to face the Toronto Raptors at the Toyota Center. The Rockets have just five of their final 13 contests at home.