HOUSTON (AP) _ Cuttino Mobley made a crucial steal and hit two free throws in the final minute as the Houston Rockets beat the Charlotte Hornets 89-86 Thursday night in a preseason game.

Free-agent signee Maurice Taylor led Houston (1-1) with 16 points, followed by Mobley with 14, Steve Francis with 13 and Kenny Thomas with 11.

Reserve Tim James led Charlotte (1-1) with 16 points, David Wesley had 15, Otis Thorpe 14 and Jamal Mashburn 12.

Houston led 75-65 with 9:01 left before Thorpe scored 11 straight points for Charlotte to cut the lead to 80-76 with 5:06 remaining.

James' basket with 1:19 left pulled the Hornets to 84-83.

But on Charlotte's next possession, Mobley stole a pass and sank both free throws with 44 seconds remaining to give Houston a three-point advantage.

A pair of free throws by Moochie Norris and one by Kelvin Cato countered a 3-pointer by the Hornets' Eddie Robinson in the closing seconds to secure the victory.