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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
HOUSTON (AP) -- Steve Francis opted for rest instead of recording a triple-double in Houston's 110-95 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Francis had a season-high 34 points, 14 assists and nine
rebounds before asking coach Rudy Tomjanovich to take him out with
2:28 left in Thursday night's game.
|  | | Rockets rookie Steve Francis soars over Clippers counterpart Lamar Odom for two of his season-high 34 points. |
"We've got a game tomorrow and I wanted to come out after the
game was decided to get some rest," Francis said. "I'm more happy
to get the win than to get a triple-double."
Tomjanovich, who saw his team snap and eight-game losing streak,
was impressed.
"He was tremendous. He had a chance to get a triple-double and
for a minute we kept him in for him to try and get it," the coach
said . But when he didn't get it for about a minute he told me to
take him out and let someone else get in. That's the kind of kid he
is.
"He wants to do it the right way and his game speaks for
itself."
Francis was going for his second triple-double of the season;
the double-double was his 15th of the season.
"He's electrifying," Clippers coach Jim Todd said after his
team dropped its sixth straight. "I'm sure the fans enjoyed it. It
was fun to watch. I had a good seat, but I really didn't enjoy
it."
Francis hit 13 of 19 shots from the field. Cuttino Mobley came
off the bench and scored 30 points and Walt Williams had 21 for the
Rockets.
Lamar Odom led Los Angeles with 28 points, Derek Anderson added
20, and Tyrone Nesby and Eric Piatkowski had 15 apiece.
Houston built a 62-53 lead with 5:05 left in the third period
after a pair of baskets by Mobley. The Clippers cut the deficit to
three, 65-62, after a basket by Piatkowski with 2:51 left in the
quarter.
Francis scored 12 points in the final three minutes of the third
quarter to spark Houston to an 81-70 lead going into the fourth
quarter.
Houston scored nine straight points to move ahead 92-74 with
7:21 left and the Clippers never threatened again.
Neither team led by more than five points in the first quarter,
with Houston holding a 23-22 advantage going into the second
period. Francis had 11 points in the first quarter.
The Clippers opened the second period by outscoring Houston
10-3, six by Odom, to lead 32-26. Houston then outscored the
Clippers 10-2 in the final three minutes of the second quarter to
take a 46-40 lead at the half.
Game notes
Houston placed Hakeem Olajuwon on the injured list because
of his respiratory ailment and activated forward Matt Bullard. ...
Houston has won 29 of its last 32 games against the Clippers. ...
Houston has used 19 different starting lineups this season, a team
record. ... Steve Francis is the only player in the NBA to lead his
team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. ... The Clippers have
lost their last seven games on Houston's home court.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
LA Clippers Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
Rockets relieved Olajuwon getting treatment
RECAPS
Milwaukee 105
Indiana 84
Cleveland 104
Dallas 98
Houston 110
LA Clippers 95
Washington 100
Denver 86
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