RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

HOUSTON (AP) _ Cuttino Mobley scored 23 points, including seven in a row in a crucial fourth-quarter stretch, as the Houston Rockets beat the Charlotte Hornets 99-83 on Tuesday night.

The Hornets cut Houston's lead to 86-82 with 5:43 to play, but Mobley countered for the Rockets with his scoring spree. He had 11 of Houston's final 16 points.

Steve Francis added 22 points and eight assists. He hit a 3-pointer with 1:46 left and assisted on Mobley's dunk with 1:03 to go.

Eddie Jones led the Hornets with 20 points, and Derrick Coleman had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

After leading by 19 early in the second quarter, the Rockets took a 51-44 halftime lead and had to fight in the third quarter to keep a 75-69 lead going into the fourth quarter. Charlotte got within four at 69-65 with 2:39 left in the third period.

The Hornets are 6-16 on the road this season and have lost 10 of their last 11 on the road.

The Rockets got off to their second straight fast start, hitting six of their first 10 shots while the Hornets opened 2-for-7. Matt Bullard hit three 3-pointers to lead the first quarter start.

The Rockets also got off to a fast start in Sunday's 89-83 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Already leading 22-17, the Rockets went on a 14-0 run that extended over into the second quarter for a 36-17 lead. The Hornets went 5:42 without a basket during Houston's shooting display.

Notes: Mobley has scored in double digits in seven straight games. ... Francis and Baron Davis of Charlotte were the second and third players chosen in the 1999 NBA draft. ... Charlotte's David Wesley started his 164th consecutive game, tying him with Hersey Hawkins for second place on the franchise consecutive starts list. ... The Rockets have won 11 of their last 14 games in Compaq Center after starting the season 0-6 at home.