Tracy McGrady scored 10 of his 33 points to help Houston overcome a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, and Scott Padgett's late 3-pointer put the Rockets ahead for good in an 82-77 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.

Padgett hadn't scored a point when he entered the game in the fourth quarter. He hit a pair of jumpers before his late 3 made it 76-73 with 28 seconds left.

Houston then made six free throws to close out its fourth straight win.

Yao Ming had 12 points and 13 rebounds. Seven of his rebounds were on the offensive end, including three in the fourth quarter to keep alive key possessions during Houston's comeback. His jump hook completed Houston's surge, tying the game at 71 with 3:40 to go.

The Hornets regained the lead on Lee Nailon's jumper over McGrady with just over two minutes left, but after Houston rebounded Padgett's missed 3-pointer, McGrady hit a pair of free throws to tie it again with 1:06 to go.

Dan Dickau led New Orleans with 23 points and a career-high 10 assists. Nailon and PJ Brown each finished with 17 points. Brown also had 10 rebounds and two blocks. It was the first home loss for the Hornets (7-34) in five games.

David Wesley's 3-pointer, which tied the game at 55, was Houston's only field goal in the last six minutes of the third period. Soon after, the Hornets used a pair of jumpers by Brown and Dickau to cap a 14-3 run that gave New Orleans the largest lead of the game to that point, 63-55, heading into the final quarter.

Nailon opened the fourth period with a jumper to make it 65-55. But McGrady led Houston back into the game, hitting on three jumpers and a driving shot high off the glass.

The teams played close through most of the first half, with the Hornets opening up a 37-32 lead on Dickau's 3-pointer. Houston then surged back ahead with a 9-0 run that included back-to-back 3s by McGrady. Brown's jumper in the final minute pulled the Hornets to 41-39 at halftime.

(Agencies)