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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
HOUSTON (AP) -- Moochie Norris was too much to handle for the
Indiana Pacers.
|  | | Steve Francis, who had a triple double, jumps on the back of Moochie Norris, who led the Rockets to the triple-OT win. |
The 6-foot-1 guard scored 11 of his career-high 28 points in the
third overtime as the Houston Rockets beat the Pacers 127-118 on
Tuesday night.
"He dominated the overtime," Maurice Taylor, who added 27
points and 13 rebounds, said. "I've never seen a guy that small
dominate a game like that. Words can't really describe it. He had
steals, rebounds, everything."
It was the first triple OT game for the Rockets, who earlier in
the day learned Hakeem Olajuwon would likely be lost for the season
because of a blood condition. It fell to the Rockets' little man to
take charge.
Norris hit a 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds to play in regulation to
force OT at 92-all. After Taylor helped push it to the second OT,
Cuttino Mobley kept the Rockets alive with eight points as the
third OT began with the game tied at 112.
Norris hit a 3-pointer 11 seconds into the third OT. "I felt I
was just the guy who was open," Norris said. "They were doubling
on Steve (Francis) and Cuttino and I was the odd man out. I had to
take those shots.
"It felt great to hit them because I knew we needed a lift.
This was definitely my career best game because we really needed
it. Those were clutch shots."
Coach Rudy Tomjanovich agreed.
"I feel a little punch drunk," Tomjanovich said. "It looked
like we were done a couple of times. But it was Moochie's night."
The Pacers led by 11 points in the fourth quarter, had a
four-point lead in the first OT and a three-point advantage with 55
seconds to play in the second OT.
"We just didn't do a good job of closing out the game," coach
Isiah Thomas said. "Our defense was not aggressive enough at the
end of regulation. We never should have allowed the three to tie
the game."
Added Reggie Miller: "We had a number of chances to win the
game. When you have a team down, you've got to execute down the
stretch. We didn't execute on offense and they hit a few shots and
got their confidence. The next thing you know, we're in overtime.
It never should have come to that."
Mobley had 27 points while Steve Francis had 16 points, 10
rebounds and 10 assists to register his second triple double of the
season and third of his career. Shandon Anderson had 14 points.
The Rockets have won six of their last eight but still remain 2 1/2
games behind Phoenix and Minnesota for the final playoff spot in
the West.
Jalen Rose scored 39 points, Jermaine O'Neal 28 and Al
Harrington added a career-high 22 as the Pacers lost for the
seventh time in the last nine games. Miller had 14.
Houston missed its first nine shots in the fourth quarter. The
Rockets went 6 minutes 37 seconds without scoring as they fell
behind 85-74.
The Rockets battled back to within 90-89 with a 9-1 run in the
final 3:05. Miller hit two free throws with 15.4 seconds to play to
give Indiana a 92-89 lead before Norris' tying shot.
Game notes
Walt Williams bruised his right hand in the first half and
didn't return ... Houston is 15-0 vs. the Central Division ...
Rockets are 22-4 vs. the Eastern Conference this year ... Pacers
are 6-23 all-time at Houston.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Indiana Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
Olajuwon done for season after blood disorder found
RECAPS
Milwaukee 101
Toronto 97
Atlanta 109
Vancouver 99
New York 98
Cleveland 79
Sacramento 114
Orlando 108
Dallas 122
New Jersey 98
Houston 127
Indiana 118
Seattle 99
Portland 90
LA Lakers 112
Boston 107
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