1-14-2006 We own Houston
By CHRIS DUNCAN, AP Sports Writer
January 14, 2006
HOUSTON (AP) -- Chris Paul had 17 points, six rebounds and five assists in his third game after injuring his right thumb, leading the New Orleans Hornets over the Houston Rockets 86-80 on Saturday night.
Desmond Mason added 16 points and P.J. Brown had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets, who finished with an 18-6 run to beat the Rockets for the third time this season.
Juwan Howard had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who fell to 0-11 without Tracy McGrady, who has missed Houston's last three games with back spasms that have plagued him all season.
Howard hit a jump hook to give the Rockets a 74-68 lead with 4:59 left, but Brown converted a three-point play and hit a jumper from the wing to start the Hornets' decisive run.
Luther Head, who scored 18 for Houston, hit a jumper from the baseline with 2:10 left, but Paul answered with a drive to give the Hornets an 80-76 lead. Paul was playing his third straight game after tearing ligaments in his thumb on Jan. 6.
Mason tacked on a free throw with 1:23 to go and the Rockets pulled no closer than three after that, losing their fifth straight game and sixth straight at home.
The Rockets should've known how the game would end after the way it started. David Wesley, averaging 19 points in Houston's last four games, picked up two fouls in the first 39 seconds and coach Jeff Van Gundy drew a technical from referee Sean Wright for protesting.
The Rockets trailed 18-13 after missing 11 of 14 shots in the first quarter.
But Houston showed some life after the dull start, mounting a 19-7 spurt early in the second. The Rockets led 36-31 at the break after holding the cold-shooting Hornets to 13 points in the second quarter, the lowest total by an opponent in a second quarter all season.
The pace quickened in the third quarter and the Hornets surged to a 39-38 lead when Kirk Snyder finished a fast break with a two-handed dunk.
Houston, with only nine healthy players for the third straight game, adjusted to the faster tempo and answered with an 11-3 burst, led by Howard's six points.
Mason scored nine points in the third quarter, though, and the Hornets trailed only 60-59 heading to the fourth.
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