HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The season has just begun, but Tracy McGrady and the Orlando Magic already could use a vacation.
McGrady had another horrible shooting night as Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley led the Houston Rockets to a 96-86 triumph over the Magic, who have lost six straight games.
Francis scored 31 points on 11-of-18 shooting and Mobley chipped in 21 and stellar defense on McGrady for the Rockets, who improved to 4-1.
"I thought we all played together and that's what we've done in the four games that we have won," Francis said. "I thought everybody came out focused. We knew we had a lull for a couple minutes, but I thought everybody was on the same page and we got the job done. I thought that it started with the defense on McGrady."
Yao Ming added 16 points and 11 rebounds and Kelvin Cato 10 and 11 for Houston, which has won three in a row over Orlando after losing 14 of the previous 15 encounters.
"We were talking about our original plan to defend Tracy McGrady," Yao said. "Our whole defense was centered on stopping him."
McGrady, who scored just four points in a 100-71 home loss to Minnesota on Friday, scored 14 points but was hounded by Mobley into 5-of-21 shooting. The perennial All-Star has just 22 points in his last five halves.
"I had a lot of help from the team (guarding McGrady)," Mobley said. "Jeff's (Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy) philosophy (of team defense) helped me out a lot. I definitely enjoy the challenge. I want to prove to people I can play. Jeff gives me the opportunity to showcase what I can do. He has high expectations of me, offensively and defensively."
"Cuttino did a good job of having a hand in (McGrady's) face every single time," Francis said. "Somebody had a hand in his face all the time."
Juwan Howard scored 22 points, Tyronn Lue added 18 and Steven Hunter 15 for Orlando, which is on its longest losing streak since an eight-game skid from January 7-20, 2000.
Houston held just an 81-78 advantage before Mobley nailed a jumper and Cato had a dunk and pair of free throws to make it 87-78 with 8:36 remaining. Orlando got no closer than six points thereafter.
"I liked the way we played," Magic coach Doc Rivers said. "In the fourth quarter we had good shots, but we didn't execute our offense well. Things aren't going well for us and when that happens, usually shots don't fall. They have to keep thinking positive."
"We kept fighting to the end and then ran out of gas," Lue said. "We just couldn't get over the hump."
Houston outrebounded Orlando, 51-35, and had three players reach double figures in the category. Unheralded backup forward Torraye Braggs was held scoreless but grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds.
"I'm trying to focus on rebounding and bringing energy," Braggs said. "I just have to play my part before (suspended forwards Maurice Taylor and Eddie Griffin) get back. We're just trying to fill in before the normal guys get back and play our roles."
The Rockets, who held a 29-26 edge after one quarter, opened up a 41-27 lead 3:36 into the second period before the Magic climbed within 57-51 at the break.
"I didn't think much of our team defense in the first half," Van Gundy said. "As a group it was very good in the second half. The first half we were really good offensively. The second half was a little flip-flop."
"That was really a big pickup for Houston (getting Van Gundy in the offseason)," Howard said. "He is a great coach and it's really good to see him out there teaching."
