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  Thursday, Oct. 12 8:30pm ET
Houston 89, Charlotte 86
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

HOUSTON (AP) _ Cuttino Mobley made a crucial steal and hit two free throws in the final minute as the Houston Rockets beat the Charlotte Hornets 89-86 Thursday night in a preseason game.

Free-agent signee Maurice Taylor led Houston (1-1) with 16 points, followed by Mobley with 14, Steve Francis with 13 and Kenny Thomas with 11.

Reserve Tim James led Charlotte (1-1) with 16 points, David Wesley had 15, Otis Thorpe 14 and Jamal Mashburn 12.

Houston led 75-65 with 9:01 left before Thorpe scored 11 straight points for Charlotte to cut the lead to 80-76 with 5:06 remaining.

James' basket with 1:19 left pulled the Hornets to 84-83.

But on Charlotte's next possession, Mobley stole a pass and sank both free throws with 44 seconds remaining to give Houston a three-point advantage.

A pair of free throws by Moochie Norris and one by Kelvin Cato countered a 3-pointer by the Hornets' Eddie Robinson in the closing seconds to secure the victory.

 


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RECAPS
San Antonio 100
Boston 80

New York 91
Philadelphia 83

Denver 106
Indiana 97

Toronto 97
Vancouver 92

Houston 89
Charlotte 86

Washington 90
LA Lakers 87

Portland 92
LA Clippers 84