Rockets Pin Down Grizzlies

After a terrible start this season, the Houston Rockets seem to be back on track.

Charles Barkley scored 25 points and Walt Williams hit a critical 3-pointer in the final minute as the Rockets handed Vancouver its 30th straight road loss, 102-99 Monday night.

The Rockets have rebounded after losing 10 of their first 12 games. They have won a season-high three straight games and five of their last seven.

Vancouver trailed by 12 points with 4:48 left in the third quarter, but rallied to take a 96-95 lead on Shareef Abdur-Rahim's basket with 2:11 remaining in the game.

Cuttino Mobley put the Rockets ahead with a driving layup, and Williams' 3-pointer made it 100-96 with 59 seconds remaining.

"I wanted to take that shot," Williams said. "I've been in this league for eight years. I don't have to vindicate myself to nobody."

Abdur-Rahim's basket with 41 seconds left made it 100-98 and the Grizzlies had a chance to tie when Othella Harrington went to the line with 6.2 seconds left. But Harrington made only one of two, and Mobley hit two free throws with five seconds left to clinch the victory.

Mobley wasn't sure his key layup was going in the basket.

"It had a little bit of English on it," he said. "It didn't surprise me when it went in, but I was a little worried because it looked like it was going to roll out.

"I wanted the ball. I figure when I get the chance to pu the ball in the basket I'm going to take it."

Abdur-Rahim led the Grizzlies with 24 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter when the Grizzlies made their final charge. Harrington added 18 and Michael Dickerson had 17.

"We put ourselves in a position to win the game," Abdur-Rahim said. "We had the opportunity but we didn't make the plays down the stretch. We had chances to make plays and we didn't finish them off."

The Grizzlies missed five free throws over the final 4:11.

"They let us back in it and we could have won the game," Harrington said. "We couldn't make the three-point play and we missed those free throws. We've got to find a way to stay in these close games."

Reserve Carlos Rogers scored 18 points for the Rockets.

Trailing 58-54 at halftime, Houston went on an 18-3 run to start the third quarter and led 79-67 with 4:48 left in the period. But Michael Dickerson scored eight straight points to help the Grizzlies get back in the game.

"Walt's four big 3s really helped us and Cuttino came through in the clutch," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "Things have been very positive for us lately. We just have to keep it on a positive note."

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