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ATLANTA (AP) _ Jim Jackson scored 23 points as the Atlanta Hawks matched their highest point total of the season with a 116-100 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

Atlanta, which has won six of its last nine games, led by as many as 31 points following a fourth-quarter jumper by Jason Terry.

After starting out 1-for-7, Atlanta made 11 of its next 13 shots to take a 28-15 lead on Jackson's jumper with 1:31 remaining in the first quarter.

The Hawks felt comfortable enough that All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo, the NBA's leading rebounder, did not return after picking up his fourth foul with 5:28 remaining in the third quarter.

Mutombo's seven rebounds marked the first time in 11 games he failed to pull down at least 12. But with Bimbo Coles leading the way with eight boards, the Hawks outrebounded Houston 52-32.

With 16 points, Coles was one of seven Hawks to score in double figures. Terry and Isaiah Rider finished with 14 points each.

After a layup by Hawks backup center Lorenzen Wright with 52.1 seconds left in the third, Houston remained 20 or more points down until the final minutes. The Rockets, who were led by Cuttino Mobley's 30 points, have lost three of their last four.

Steve Francis, still somewhat slowed by a bad knee, scored 13 points on 5-for-13 shooting. Hakeem Olajuwon scored 12 points.

Notes: Referee Jim Kinsey ejected Kelvin Cato after the Rockets center was whistled for consecutive technical fouls with 5:51 left in the third quarter. ... Henderson was assessed a technical at the end of the third and did not return. ... A third-quarter miss by Mutombo broke his 12-for-12 streak on free throws. ... The Hawks' 65-point first half was their second-best this season, topped only by a 66-point effort in a 108-90 win over Cleveland on Dec. 23.