=== Houston Rockets Team Report - December 27 ===

(My Sportsbook) - The Houston Rockets fell to the Denver Nuggets, 95-94, on Friday at the Pepsi Center.

Maurice Taylor had 22 points and Cuttino Mobley scored 17 for the Rockets, who have dropped three of their last four contests.

Yao Ming's basket less than two minutes into the fourth capped a 5-0 burst and gave Houston a 77-70 edge. The Nuggets, though, closed within 85-83 on Carmelo Anthony's three pointer with around five minutes remaining.

Andre Miller's basket with 2:51 left in the game tied the score at 87-87, but Ming answered with a jump hook to give the Rockets the lead right back. Steve Francis hit two free throws moments later to make it 91-87 with 1:45 left.

However, Denver scored four straight, capped by Earl Boykins' jumper, to even the game at 91-91 with 1:01 remaining in the fourth.

Taylor then gave Houston a 93-91 lead on his basket with 51 seconds left, but Anthony was fouled at the other end and the rookie made 1-of-2 to get the Nuggets within one point with 32 seconds to go.

Francis then got fouled on a shot and he made one, extending the cushion to 94-92 with 17 seconds remaining.

Miller missed a jumper in the closing seconds, but the rebound ricocheted back out and Voshon Lenard got the ball where he attempted a three-pointer and was fouled on the shot. Lenard made all three to give Denver its first lead of the game at 95-94 with 8.3 seconds left

Taylor's jumper as time expired fell short.

The Rockets are off until Monday when they host the Seattle SuperSonics.