RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) _ Kelvin Cato hit two free throws with 13 seconds left to lift the Houston Rockets to a 98-96 preseason victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

Charles Barkley, who announced at halftime that he would retire at the end of the season, had 13 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for Houston.

The Rockets (2-4) trailed 93-85 with 4:04 left, but Cato hit four straight free throws and Steve Francis made three of four down the stretch.

Francis, the leading scorer among NBA rookies in the preseason, hit two free throws with 34 seconds left to tie the game at 95. Then, after Detroit's Michael Hawkins missed a 3-pointer, Cato was fouled trying to dunk off a lobbed inbounds pass from Shandon Anderson. He hit both foul shots.

Detroit's Jimmy King missed the first of two free throws with six seconds left, leaving Houston up 97-96.

Francis then drew a foul, missed the first but hit the second. King's desperation shot from the left side bounced off the rim at the buzzer.

Grant Hill scored 26 points and Jerry Stackhouse added 20 for the Pistons (4-2).

Francis had 22 points and Anderson 21 for the Rockets. Walt Williams added 19.