NEW YORK, 13 March 2004 — Cuttino Mobley poured in 31 points to carry the Houston Rockets to a 97-86 win over the New Orleans Hornets in the first of only two NBA games on Thursday. It was Houston’s fourth straight victory.
Mobley was deadly from beyond the arc, hitting six of his nine three-point tries, matching a season high for him. The Rhode Island-schooled guard, a second-round choice in 1998, reeled off 13 straight points to spark a 17-4 Houston run very early in the second stanza to all but put the game away for the Rockets.
Steve Francis, who has been in coach Jeff Van Gundy’s doghouse at times this campaign, added 19 points, with Yao Ming getting 17 and a team-high nine rebounds.
Baron Davis paced the Hornets with 30 points, the majority of them in the waning minutes as New Orleans made a late charge. Darrell Armstrong was next best for New Orleans with just 11 points, with All-Star Jamaal Magloire adding 10 to go with his 11 rebounds.
Meanwhile, four Kings topped the 20-point barrier as Sacramento thumped the Dallas Mavericks 120-102. Peja Stojakovic and Doug Christie led the Kings with 22 points apiece, with both Mike Bibby and Brad Miller racking up 21. Miller also pulled down 16 rebounds.
Recently returned co-captain Chris Webber added 16 points. The Mavericks were paced by Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 21 points.
Dallas playmaker Steve Nash, who before the contest cited Sacramento’s depth, added 13 points while dishing out seven assists. Dallas, the NBA’s best home team, fell to just 11-20 on the road.
