HOUSTON (AP) _ Gary Payton gave Houston rookie Steve Francis a little basketball lecture, then followed it with a clutch demonstration.

Payton scored 29 points, including four decisive layups late in the game, helping the Seattle SuperSonics break a five-game losing streak Tuesday night with a 103-96 victory over the Rockets.

``Gary Payton hit some tough, big shots for them,'' Francis said. ``He hit a lot of runners with hands in his face. There's not much you can do about that.''

Seattle (19-12) was clinging to an 89-87 lead with just under six minutes remaining before Payton scored his decisive eight points, each time braving a swarm of Rockets. When he made the last one with 3:42 left, the Sonics had a 10-point lead.

The Rockets (10-21) managed just two field goals in the final 6:32.

``We came out lackadaisical and didn't play the way we're supposed to,'' said Payton, who also had 10 assists. ``Then we played some defense in the second half and got the win.''

Francis scored 27 points to tie a career high he has set in two other games, including a Nov. 20 matchup at Seattle. Matt Bullard added a season-high 20 in a rare start for Houston.

For Seattle, Vin Baker had 19 points and 18 rebounds and Horace Grant had 18 points.

Payton and Francis, often compared to the Seattle star, each earned technical fouls midway through the third period for jawing with one another. Through Francis has had two of his best games against Payton, the Sonics have prevailed both times.

Both players said afterward they weren't even trash-talking when the technical was called while they watched a free throw from near halfcourt.

``He was just trying to help me out,'' Francis said. ``He told me to shoot more jumpers. He said he would pay my fine (for the technical).''

Payton, known for his trash talk, agreed that it was a misunderstanding: ``The ref thought we were taunting, but it wasn't like that and he should have taken the foul back.''

Bullard scored the Rockets' first 12 points to keep them from falling too far behind early. Down by seven midway through the quarter, Houston rallied to keep it tight throughout the first half.

Seattle led Houston 54-53 at halftime. The Rockets trailed for most of the second half, but remained in striking distance until Payton's late barrage.

``I'm glad he's going to be on my team this summer,'' said Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who will lead the U.S. Olympic basketball squad.

Notes: Francis was the NBA Rookie of the Month for December, averaging 16.6 points, 6.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 12 games. ... The Rockets failed to fill the Compaq Center for the 11th time in 16 home games. The team had a five-year sellout streak coming into the season. ... Payton had no steals, leaving him with 1,657 in his career, 10 short of Fat Lever for No. 12 on the NBA's career list. ... Seattle center-forward Jelani McCoy, out since Dec. 22 with a sprained right ankle, was expected to be activated today. ... With Bullard starting instead of Kelvin Cato (sprained right wrist), Houston used its ninth starting lineup of the season.