After Houston seemingly buried the Houston Rockets for the second time this season, Norris nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift them to an 88-86 victory over the struggling New York Knicks.
Houston nailed two clutch jumpers in the final minute of the Knicks' victory over the Rockets at Madison Square Garden on December 3. He seemed to get the best of Houston again as he nailed a jumper with 7.5 seconds left to give New York an 86-85 lead.
After the Knicks gave a foul perhaps too quickly, the Rockets inbounded to Steve Francis, who drove the lane before dishing to a wide-open Norris in the right corner. Norris, who made a costly turnover prior to Houston's jumper, drained the shot as time expired.
 Moochie Norris releases yet another game-winning jumper, this one against the Knicks in Houston. Bill Baptist /NBAE/Getty Images |
"The play was designed for me to drive to my left," Francis said. "They took that away and I saw something blazing in the corner. It looked like he wanted it and I knew I would hear it if I didn't get the ball to him."
Norris finished with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and danced on the scorers' table after leading the Rockets to their fourth victory in seven games.
"I knew we need a basket and I wanted to make it," Norris said. "I wanted to make a big play and I did. It felt great, it's what I've dreamed about."
Norris also nailed a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Houston to a victory in Phoenix on November 4.
"That dude always hits those shots," Rockets guard Cuttino Mobley said. "He's amazing. Afterward I looked at him and said, `you are blessed.'"
While the Rockets were celebrating, the Knicks were questioning their play execution down the stretch.
"I probably could've waited a little longer but I went off my instinct," Houston said of his jumper. "I didn't want to think about it and when I got the shot I wanted I took it and I hit it. I really don't have any regrets because I made the shot. We shouldn't have let a guy get an open shot. We had a defensive breakdown."
"I wanted the ball in his hands in that situation," Knicks coach Don Chaney said. "If you can hold it a little longer, then that's perfect. You don't want to give them a chance to double team, you take advantage when it's open."
Francis fell just short of a triple-double with 19 points, nine assists and nine rebounds. Kenny Thomas scored 24 points on 11-of-16 shooting and rookie Eddie Griffin had 13 points, eight rebounds and a season-high six blocks for the Rockets.
Houston finished with 28 points and Mark Jackson added 14 for the Knicks, who have lost 11 of their last 14 games. Latrell Sprewell was held to eight points on 4-of-15 shooting.
Thomas scored 16 points in the first half for the Rockets, who took the lead with 5:24 left in the first quarter and did not relinquish it until the final period.
Houston had a 64-56 advantage with 1:56 left in the third quarter when New York went on a 13-4 run and took the lead on Houston's layup just 1:40 into the fourth.
Marcus Camby made a pair of free throws and Charlie Ward hit a 3-pointer to give New York a 74-70 edge with 7:49 to go. But Griffin sank a jumper and Francis made a pair of free throws to tie it.
Houston and Griffin traded 3-pointers and the teams exchanged the lead on the final nine baskets of the game.