Rockets defeat Bucks, 111-107, in overtime
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-03-29 09:46

Yao Ming finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks Sunday, and the Houston Rockets overcame a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 111-107 in overtime.

Steve Francis' last-second shot forced overtime on Sunday in Milwaukee. [Getty Image]

Milwaukee trailed 108-107 with six seconds left when Houston's Jim Jackson made two free throws after not being called for an apparent traveling violation on the inbounds pass. Michael Redd then was called for a line violation while inbounding and Steve Francis made one free throw for the final margin.

Francis finished wit 23 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Maurice Taylor and Cuttino Mobley each added 19 points for Houston.

Redd had 36 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for the Bucks while Joe Smith scored a season-high 25 points. Milwaukee was without Keith Van Horn, who sprained his left ankle and bruised his left calf Friday against Chicago.

Houston had lost four of six, including a 23-point defeat at Memphis Friday. The Bucks have lost 10 of 13, including four straight at home for the first time since February 2000. They are 8-20 against Western Conference teams this season.

Milwaukee missed a chance to tie New Orleans for fourth place in the Eastern Conference and has just a half-game lead over Miami for the fifth playoff spot.

The Bucks led 87-78 with less than five minutes left in the fourth quarter. But Yao scored six points in a 12-2 run that gave Houston a 90-89 lead with 1:12 to go.

Desmond Mason, who finished with 19 points, made a layup to give Milwaukee a one-point lead with 42.7 left. Jackson and Francis missed back-to-back 3-point attempts, and Mason made 1-of-2 at the line with 2.9 seconds left to make it 92-90.

But Francis redeemed himself, driving the left baseline and sinking a layup at the buzzer to force overtime.

Notes: Dan Gadzuric failed to score in six minutes for Milwaukee after missing one game with a sprained right ankle. ... Clarence Weatherspoon tied his season high by scoring 12 points, all in the first half.

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