(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-15 09:26

HOUSTON - The Houston Rockets enter the All-Star break with an eight-game winning streak thanks to a clutch shot by Steve Novak.

Houston Rockets' Steve Novak, left, is congratulated by teammates Shane Battier (31) and Yao Ming (11), of China, on his three-point shot with less than three seconds on the clock to beat the Sacramento Kings 89-87 in a basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008 in Houston. [Agencies]

Novak hit a 3-pointer, his only field goal of the game, with two seconds left to lead the Rockets to an 89-87 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

Ron Artest had rallied the Kings back from an 18-point fourth quarter deficit and his off-balance jump shot gave them a 87-86 lead with 24 seconds left.

With Artest all over him, Tracy McGrady drove into the lane and then kicked the ball out to Novak for the winning shot and his only points of the game.

"I had to come in and make a shot and I did," Novak said. "It was fortunate that I did."

McGrady said he told coach Rick Adelman he needed to put Novak in because he would be open because of the double team on Yao Ming.

"I wanted to drive to the basket and I saw the play before it even happened," McGrady said. "I knew everyone was going to come in and I saw Novak on the perimeter and as confident as he is, he knocked down the shot."

Houston enters the All-Star break having won 17 of its last 20 games, marking the most successful 20-game span for the team since the 1996-97 season.

Artest led the Kings with 30 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter.

Yao led the Rockets with 25 points and 14 rebounds and Rafer Alston scored a season-high 23 points.

Sacramento trailed by 18 points at the end of the third quarter, but used a 15-1 run capped by a 3-pointer by Brad Miller to get within 80-76 midway through the fourth quarter.

In Cleveland, the San Antonio Spurs downed the Cavaliers 112-105, marking a successful return to the arena where they won the NBA title last season.

Manu Ginobili scored a season-high 46 points, including a career-best eight three-pointers, as the Spurs defeated the team they swept from the NBA finals.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich was full of praise for the Argentine.

"He's one of the most unbelievable competitors I've been around," Popovich told reporters.

"That's why he has NBA championships and Olympic championships and European championships. He's a pretty special guy."

Ginobili had 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Spurs outscored Cleveland 41-30 in the final 12 minutes to wrap up their annual nine-game "rodeo" road trip 6-3.

San Antonio take the lengthy road trip every year when a rodeo is staged at their home arena.

"It was a special game," Ginobili said. "I felt like every shot was going to go in, and it did."

Tim Duncan added 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs, while Ime Udoka had 12 points off the bench. Duncan was impressed with Ginobili's shooting.

"He's unbelievable when he gets going like that," Duncan said.

LeBron James had 39 points and nine assists for the Cavs while Larry Hughes added 26.

*The Charlotte Bobcats snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 100-98 overtime win over the Atlanta Hawks. Emeka Okafor had 20 points and 21 rebounds for Charlotte.

*The New Jersey Nets were beaten 109-91 by the Raptors in Toronto. Chris Bosh had 27 points and nine rebounds for the Raptors.

*Dwight Howard had 23 points and 24 rebounds as the Orlando Magic outlasted the Denver Nuggets 109-98.