Orlando, Florida: Yao Ming scored a career-high 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, leading the Rockets to their third straight National Basketball Association win on Sunday, a 99-87 victory over the Orlando Magic.

The Rockets won for the sixth time in seven games.

Orlando Magic forward Juwan Howard (R) drives to basket against Houston Rockets center Yao Ming during first half NBA action in Orlando on Sunday. Yao scored a career-high 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Rockets to a 99-87 victory. It was Yao's 20th double-double of the season. [Reuters]

China's Yao took over the game in the third quarter, scoring 21 points as Houston's guards repeatedly fed him the ball in 1-on-1 situations.

It was Yao's 20th double-double of the season and sixth during the Rockets' recent run.

Despite the Magic's reluctance to double-team, they trailed only 75-71 entering the final period thanks to Tracy McGrady and Tyronn Lue, who combined to make six 3-pointers in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Maurice Taylor picked up where Yao left off, scoring 10 straight points for Houston in three minutes to provide an 87-78 lead with 7:55 to play. Taylor finished with 20 points and eight rebounds.

After Taylor's outburst, the Rockets pulled away. Yao's final basket, a jumper from the top of the key with 3:16 left, gave the Rockets their biggest lead at 97-83.

McGrady led the Magic with 31 points.

Steve Francis, Houston's leading scorer, had only seven points - 10 below his average. He missed eight of 11 shots, and his first field goal didn't come until 38.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

In Dallas, Michael Finley scored 23 points, including the go-ahead 18-footer with 1:58 left, as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Sacramento Kings 108-99 on Sunday.

After Sacramento - which entered with the Western Conference's best record at 30-12 - fought back from a 10-point deficit to tie the game at 97 on Mike Bibby's 3-pointer with 2:14 left, the Mavericks scored nine straight points to clinch the victory.

"We were strong," Mavericks coach Don Nelson said.

"Everybody didn't play great all the time, but they certainly played hard all the time. We needed to take care of the ball, and we did that."

Steve Nash had 21 points and a season-high 13 assists, with just one turnover. Dirk Nowitzki had 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Peja Stojakovic led Sacramento with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Doug Christie had 23 points, while Bobby Jackson had 18. Brad Miller had 11 points and 17 rebounds.

In other action, Jason Terry scored 22 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 91-82 upset win over the Pistons in Detroit.

Stephen Jackson added 21 points for the Hawks, who dressed just nine players due to injuries to win their fourth game in their last seven games.

Atlanta also ended the Pistons nine-game home winning streak while also handing Detroit its third straight loss.

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