The Shaq-Yao matchup was a push. Otherwise, the Houston Rockets were clearly superior to the Los Angeles Lakers — especially down the stretch.

Yao Ming shoots over Shaq O'Neal. [Reuters]

Steve Francis had 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Yao Ming and Jim Jackson added 18 points each Thursday night to help the Rockets beat the suddenly slumping Lakers 99-87.

Cuttino Mobley added 15 points and Maurice Taylor came off the bench to score 14 for the Rockets, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

The loss was the second straight and fourth in six games for the Lakers (20-7) since they appeared dominant during a 10-game winning streak.

Yao, who also had eight rebounds, committed his fifth foul and came out of the game with 9:26 remaining and the game tied at 77. He watched the rest of the game from the bench as the Rockets outscored the Lakers 22-10.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists, but he shot just 9-of-26 — including 1-of-7 in the fourth quarter.

Shaquille O'Neal had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Gary Payton added 13 points and seven assists for the Lakers, who shot a miserable 37.6 percent (32-of-85). The Rockets shot 44.4 percent (36-of-81).

Shaquille O'Neal (R) drives the lane against Yao Ming in the second quarter. [Reuters]

The Lakers played without Karl Malone, who missed his second game since spraining his right knee. Malone is expected to sit out at least one more — against Boston on Sunday night — before being re-evaluated.

Malone disappointed his coach by not attending the game.

"We got a call this morning saying he wasn't going to come even though I asked him to come yesterday," Phil Jackson said before the game. "It's an unexcused absence we'll talk about tomorrow.

"Some of it was the knee. He's still bothered by it. It's good for him to stay off it. We still want him to treat it. He'll miss one day."

Mobley's free throw with 9:08 left put Houston ahead for good. Consecutive 3-pointers by Mobley and Moochie Norris triggered a 10-1 run that made it 90-80 with a little under four minutes left, and the Lakers didn't pose a threat after that.

The Lakers scored the first 10 points of the third quarter to trim Houston's 57-44 halftime lead to three points. The Rockets missed five shots and committed four turnovers during the spurt.

O'Neal made two free throws with 3:01 left in the third period to put the Lakers on top 68-67 — their first lead of the game. The Rockets led 73-71 entering the fourth quarter.

Yao Ming (R) fouls Shaquille O'Neal in the second quarter. [Reuters]

Houston led 35-19 early in the second quarter before Bryant made two baskets for his first points.

Yao scored six straight Houston points on a 20-foot jumper, a hook over O'Neal and a tip-in to give him 16 points and the Rockets a 54-40 lead. O'Neal also had 16 points at that stage.

A follow dunk by Francis as the first half ended gave the Rockets their 13-point halftime lead.

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant attempts to move around the defense of Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (11) and Jim Jackson (R) during the fourth quarter of their NBA game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles December 25, 2003. [Reuters]

The Rockets shot 13-of-21 in taking a 33-19 lead into the second quarter. The Lakers were 8-of-23 at that stage and drew some boos from the home crowd as the period ended.

Security at the game was "heightened," according to Lakers spokesman John Black. "We're not going to discuss any specifics," he added.

Malone has missed three games this season and 13 of a possible 1,471 during his 19-year career — eight because of injury or illness and five due to suspension.

Lakers F Rick Fox, who hasn't played since having surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left foot May 12, said he expects to return Jan. 9 against Atlanta. "Two weeks ago, I was still in that realm of uncertainty," he said. "Now, we're finding out the timetable that goes with this kind of injury."

The Lakers entered averaging 102.1 points and have scored 100 or more 13 times while the Rockets were averaging 86.1 points and have scored 100 or more three times.

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