HOUSTON (AP) -- Cuttino Mobley didn't wait very long to take

matters into his own hands.

Mobley scored 31 points and equaled a season high with six

3-pointers as the Houston Rockets beat the New Orleans Hornets

97-86 Thursday night for their fourth straight victory.

With the Rockets leading 23-21 early in the second quarter,

Mobley scored 13 straight points as part of a 17-4 surge that put

Houston in control.

"For a minute, everything felt good," Mobley said. "I don't

pay attention to that (13 in a row). When you're in a groove,

you're in a groove."

Mobley's run included three straight 3-point baskets, a layup

following a steal by Mark Jackson and a 12-foot jumper. Houston

outscored the Hornets 28-13 in the second-quarter breakaway. Mobley

was 6-of-9 from 3-point range.

"It was nice to get Cuttino back playing effectively, he's been

struggling for a few games," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said.

"We need our best, most efficient scorers to play efficiently

together.

"Over the last five or six games, he's really struggled

shooting. We need his shooting. He did a good job of shooting

tonight."

Mobley has been bothered by a sore lower back sustained against

the Lakers on March 3.

Mobley hit a 3-pointer and a basket to start the fourth quarter,

when the Rockets took a 20-point lead. But they had to hold off a

mild charge led by Baron Davis, who scored 16 of his 30 points over

the final 6:38. New Orleans got the deficit down to seven with 51

seconds to play.

"We had a 13-point (second) quarter and on the other end we

never found an answer for Mobley and Steve Francis," New Orleans

coach Tim Floyd said. "The first half we weren't able to penetrate

on offense and in the second half they made us guard Yao (Ming)

down low and we never got their guards under control."

The Rockets rode Mobley's big second quarter to a 49-34 halftime

lead and, despite eight third-quarter points by P.J. Brown, Houston

kept the big lead, 73-56 going into the fourth quarter.

Darrell Armstrong had 11 points and Brown and Jamaal Magloire

each had 10 for the Hornets.

Steve Francis and Jim Jackson each had 19 points for the

Rockets.

"He (Mobley) was really good, not only him but everybody who

got the ball, but he was great," Francis said.

Yao Ming had four points, a blocked shot and two fouls in the

first five minutes of the game. He sat out the rest of the opening

period, and New Orleans outscored Houston 8-4 over the closing

minutes for a 21-21 tie. Yao finished with 17 points and five

fouls.

"We moved the ball and played the game the way we're supposed

to play," Yao said. "Our spacing was good and Cuttino was playing

very well."

Yao presented problems for New Orleans' defense.

"His ability to change shots can have a big impact on the

game," Floyd said. "Yao is a young guy who's getting better and

better, and their guards recognize his importance. They know they

have to play through him."Game notes
The Rockets have a winning record each month this season

for the first time since 1993-94, when they won the first of

back-to-back NBA championships. ... The Hornets have a 3-12 record

in Houston. ... The Rockets have a 28-6 record this season when

leading after the first quarter. ... Injuries have forced the

Hornets to use 10 different starting lineups this season. ...

Maurice Taylor left in the third quarter with a sore left knee.

Taylor said he expects to play on Saturday.