Mr. Big Shot Lifts Rockets Past N.Y.

Moochie Norris is making a habit of sinking big shots at the end of games.

The reserve guard came through again Tuesday night at Houston, making a three-point shot from the corner at the buzzer to lift the Rockets over the Knicks, 88-86, New York’s third consecutive loss.

“The dude is amazing,” teammate Cuttino Mobley said. “It seems like he always hits those shots. After this one, I looked at him and just said you are blessed man.”

It was the fourth buzzer-beater of Norris’ career.

“It seems whenever it comes down to crunch time, Steve [Francis] or Cuttino get the ball and I always walk up to them and say, ‘If my man leaves me, look for me in the corner,”’ Norris said. “It feels great being in those situations. It’s something you dream about.”

Norris, who had 13 points, was called for an offensive foul with 13 seconds to play. That led to Allan Houston’s basket, which gave the Knicks an 86-85 lead with seven seconds left.

The Rockets worked the inbounds pass to Steve Francis, but he got bottled up and passed to Norris, who was alone in the corner.

Kenny Thomas led the Rockets with 24 points. Houston led the Knicks with 28 points.

New York has lost five of its last six games and dropped to 4-11 since Don Chaney replaced Jeff Van Gundy as coach.

Knick backup center Travis Knight, a former Laker, injured his right knee during the first half and was scheduled for an MRI exam today.

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Atlanta 101, Portland 92--Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 30 points at Atlanta as the Hawks used a 12-4 run midway through the fourth quarter to finally put the Trail Blazers away and end a two-game losing streak.

Bonzi Wells scored 26 for the Trail Blazers, who had won two in a row.

New Jersey 104, Miami 95--Keith Van Horn scored eight of his 19 points in the decisive fourth quarter at East Rutherford, N.J., leading seven Nets in double figures in a victory over the Heat.

New Jersey, which ended Miami’s season-high three-game winning streak, won despite blowing a 17-point, first-half lead.

Alonzo Mourning had season bests of 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Heat.

Memphis 84, Toronto 81--Stromile Swift scored the final six points at Memphis, Tenn., as the Grizzlies ended a four-game losing streak.

Swift and Pau Gasol each had 20 points.

Vince Carter led the Raptors with 31 points.

Dallas 95, Denver 94--Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 points, and his three-point play with 6.9 seconds left sent the Mavericks to victory at Dallas.

Avery Johnson’s layup with 19.7 seconds remaining had given Denver a 94-92 lead. But Nowitzki answered with a turnaround jumper while being fouled by Ryan Bowen.

Dallas was without No. 2 scorer Michael Finley (strained left hamstring), who went on the injured list Tuesday for the first time in his six-year career.

Utah 98, Phoenix 84--Scott Padgett scored a career-high 17 points as the host Jazz dealt the Suns their fourth loss in a row.

Karl Malone scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, but it was Utah’s reserves that made the difference with 49 points in moving the Jazz two games above .500 for the first time this season.

Milwaukee 113, Golden State 97--Sam Cassell had 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds at Oakland to help the Bucks snap a four-game losing streak.

The Warriors, losers of six in a row, are 4-8 under interim Coach Brian Winters, who replaced Dave Cowens last month.