NBA Trio lifts Cavaliers, but Rockets take off

Tony Battie, Eric Williams and Kedrick Brown combined for 36 points.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- While the Cleveland Cavaliers got a nice lift from their three new players, the Houston Rockets had to rely on their usual threesome of stars.
Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley scored 18 points apiece and Yao Ming grabbed a crucial rebound down the stretch as Houston rallied for an 89-85 win Wednesday night.
"The big three gotta come to play, that's all," Mobley said. "That's what it's all about -- simple as that."
Late charge
Francis, fighting a cold the past few days, scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and the Rockets used a late 12-0 spurt to end a three-game losing streak.
"We've all felt every loss we've had in the last three games," said Francis, who added nine assists in 45 minutes. "We showed more spirit and will as far as guys not wanting to lose."
Maurice Taylor added 14 points, and Yao 12 -- plus a big offensive rebound with 1:12 to play -- for the Rockets, who trailed 78-71 before going on their 12-0 run.
"When it was 78-71, we were just thinking positive," Mobley said. "Think positive, that's all we had to do. And play hard."
Cavs rookie LeBron James won the matchup of the NBA's last two No. 1 overall draft picks, outscoring Yao 17-12, but couldn't prevent Cleveland from losing for the 12th time in 14 games.
The Cavs played for the first time since their six-player trade with Boston, and they got a lift from new arrivals Tony Battie, Eric Williams and Kedrick Brown, who combined for 36 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.
Cleveland's new guys haven't been able to practice with the team yet, and were force fed three plays during Wednesday morning's shootaround.
"They played real well," Cavs coach Paul Silas said. "They played hard and defended. We were in a big hole when they came in and they brought us back. They're going to help us win a lot of ball games."
Seemingly in control
James' jumper just before the shot clock expired gave Cleveland a seven-point lead with 5:21 remaining, and the Cavs appeared to be in control.
But Francis hit a long 3, Taylor dropped in a jumper, and Mobley drained another 3 from the right corner as the Rockets took a 79-78 lead with four minutes to go.
Francis then made another jumper over James, and after a Cleveland turnover, the Rockets guard drove for a layup to make it 83-78 with 2:58 remaining.
Down by three, the Cavs twice missed the back end of 1-and-1 at the foul line and Taylor's 16-footer put Houston ahead 85-81 with 23.6 seconds to play.
Francis then made two free throws with 16 seconds remaining. James banked in a 3-pointer, but Francis hit two more foul shots in the closing seconds to seal it.