Yao Ming scored 21 points Wednesday to send the Houston Rockets over the Philadelphia 76ers 80-72.
Cuttino Mobley had 20 points and Steve Francis added 15 as the Rockets ended a two-game home losing streak.
"We had to start the New Year off right," Mobley said. "We didn't play our best, but we won. I guess we're making progress."
Kenny Thomas had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Greg Buckner had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers. They have lost four straight, all on the road, and are 4-7 with Allen Iverson -- sidelined by a right knee contusion -- out of the lineup.
"We had no defensive toughness at all," 76ers coach Randy Ayers said. "For us to be a competitive team in this league, we have to be tough. You have to make guys get up the court and play aggressive defense."
Houston scored the first 12 points of the fourth quarter to take its biggest lead at 70-56. The 76ers missed their first eight shots of the period.
"I liked the start of the fourth quarter," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "It's always good to win. I think some guys did some good things. Even though [the 76ers] were undermanned, they play hard and are well coached and always play you close."
After trailing by six at the half, the 76ers closed to 58-56 after three quarters, with Buckner scoring six points in the period.
Hornets 96, Celtics 94
Baron Davis scored 29 points and had 10 assists while P.J. Brown scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, leading New Orleans past the Boston Celtics 96-94 on Wednesday and snapping the Hornets' four-game road losing streak.
New Orleans is now 3-0 against Boston this season.
Ricky Davis made it close late by hitting a 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left to cut the Hornets' lead to 96-94. Boston then forced the Hornets to throw the ensuing inbounds pass away. But George Lynch stole Jiri Welsch's entry pass to seal the win.
"This game was full of runs and we were fortunate enough to make the last run," Baron Davis said. "We have our defensive swagger back and it was nice to get a road win after I felt we gave one away in Detroit."
Welsch led Boston with 17 points and Mike James added 15 points. Paul Pierce scored 14 points on just 4-of-16 shooting.
"We hung around today," Celtics center Chris Mihm said. "We had our chances and that's what's discouraging."
Pistons 78, Trail Blazers 71
In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Chauncey Billups scored 22 points and Ben Wallace added 10 points and 15 rebounds, leading the Detroit Pistons over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Detroit also got 13 points from Richard Hamilton and 12 from reserve Corliss Williamson while winning its third in a row. The Pistons snapped a six-game losing streak to Portland and beat the Blazers at home for the first time since Jan. 29, 1997.
Nets 88, Warriors 70
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Jason Kidd had seven points and two assists in a 13-3 third-quarter as New Jersey downed Golden State.
Kidd finished with 23 points, seven assists and four rebounds in just 29 minutes, helping the Nets close the year with their 10th win in 13 games. Kenyon Martin scored 17 points and sealed the victory with two late 3-pointers.
Jason Richardson and Erick Dampier had 15 points each to lead Golden State.
Clippers 120, Nuggets 104
In LA, Quentin Richardson scored a career-high 44 points and Elton Brand had 20 points and nine rebounds in Los Angeles' victory over Denver.
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