SEATTLE (AP) _ With the game in doubt, Gary Payton and the rest of the veterans turned up the defensive pressure in the second half as the Seattle SuperSonics won their home exhibition opener.

Payton scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half Wednesday night, leading the Sonics to a 101-88 exhibition victory over the Houston Rockets.

The Sonics held the Rockets to three baskets in the last nine minutes of the game and just 13 baskets in 45 attempts during the second half. Sonics coach Paul Westphal relied on his veterans in the fourth quarter, letting Payton, Vin Baker, Brent Barry, Horace Grant and Vernon Maxwell secure the victory.

Jelani McCoy had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and six Sonics scored in double figures as they evened their preseason record at 1-1. The Sonics outscored the Rockets 57-34 in the second half.

Kelvin Cato's dunk gave the Rockets an 82-81 lead with nine minutes left in the game. Then the Sonics took command by running off 12 straight points for a 93-82 lead with 4:18 left.

Rookie Steve Francis and Walt Williams led the Rockets in their exhibition opener with 15 points apiece. Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon had four points apiece and played 25 and 29 minutes, respectively.

Francis, the No. 2 pick in the 1999 draft, had five assists, six turnovers and shot 4-of-15 from the field. Acquired by Houston in an 11-player, three-team swap on Aug. 27, Francis had a mercurial first half. He had five points, three assists and four turnovers in nine minutes. In the second period, he dunked, chinned himself on the rim and was called for a technical foul.

Cato, one of five players Houston acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Oct. 2 trade that sent Scottie Pippen to Portland, was impressive. He had 11 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

The Sonics had 17 steals, led by Barry's six.

The Rockets led 54-44 at halftime.