Francis Delivers Again for Rockets

With the game on the line, the Houston Rockets put the ball in the hands of their Mr. Clutch. Once again, Steve Francis didn’t disappoint.

Francis forced overtime with a buzzer-beating three-point basket for the second time in less than a week, then came up with a key loose ball to help the Rockets defeat the Heat, 105-100, Monday night at Miami.

Francis, who scored 21 points, sent the game into overtime by making a 25-footer to tie the game at 91. The shot was similar to the one Francis sank at the end of regulation Friday against Memphis in a 114-109 overtime loss.

With five seconds left, Francis ran around a pick set by center Yao Ming and launched a shot over Brian Grant just before the buzzer sounded. The ball swished through.

“We run that play a lot at the end of the game,” Francis said. “We knew Miami is known for being a tough defensive team. It’s a tough play. Brian Grant was right there. He might have nipped my hand, but I had enough elevation.”

With the Rockets leading, 101-100, Miami’s Eddie Jones lost possession with the clock winding down, and Francis came up with the ball. Eddie Griffin made a pair of free throws with nine seconds left and Yao added a pair to help the Rockets snap a two-game losing streak.

Cuttino Mobley scored 27 points for the Rockets, and Yao had 15 points and 12 rebounds. Jones scored 32 points for the Heat, including 17 in the fourth quarter as Miami rallied from a 14-point deficit. Jones also added 10 rebounds, seven assists and six steals.

“We knew exactly what they were going to run at the end,” Jones said. “We saw it about four or five times on tape. Brian was all over him, and [Francis] hit a tough shot. You have to give him credit for that.”

Chicago 94, Boston 83 -- Donyell Marshall had 20 points and 13 rebounds, including a key three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, as the Bulls held off the Celtics at Chicago.

Jalen Rose led the Bulls with 24 points, and Marcus Fizer had a big night off the bench, scoring 20 and tying his career high with 17 rebounds. It was the fourth victory in five games for the Bulls, who didn’t get their eighth victory last season until mid-January.

Paul Pierce had 37 points and 15 rebounds on a night in which the Celtics shot only 33% and were outrebounded, 58-46.

Phoenix 87, Orlando 84 -- Penny Hardaway fell two assists shy of a triple-double at Phoenix as the Suns won their fourth in a row.

The Magic was without Tracy McGrady (bruised back) and Mike Miller (strep throat).

Playing his former team, Hardaway had 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

All five Sun starters scored in double figures with Shawn Marion leading the way with 19 points. Pat Garrity scored a season-high 21 points for Orlando, but only six in the second half.

Seattle 111, Cleveland 98 -- Gary Payton moved into ninth place on the career assist list, adding nine more to his total in the SuperSonics’ victory at Cleveland.

Payton, in his 13th season, surpassed Terry Porter on the list. Payton has 7,164 assists and is averaging a league-leading 9.5 this season.

Rashard Lewis led Seattle with 29 points. Ricky Davis had 20 points for Cleveland.

Philadelphia 93, Denver 71 -- Allen Iverson had 23 points at Philadelphia as the 76ers snapped a five-game losing streak, sending the Nuggets to their fifth consecutive loss.

Denver scored only 22 points in the first half for the second time this season. Rookie Nene Hilario scored a career-high 23 points for the Nuggets.

Memphis 104, Golden State 91 -- After missing his first eight shots, Wesley Person scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter at Memphis, Tenn., as the Grizzlies won for the fifth time in six games. Gordan Giricek and Pau Gasol led six Grizzlies in double figures with 18 points each.