HOUSTON, March 12 (Ticker) -- In a game that featured 17 lead changes, Cuttino Mobley produced the permanent one.

Mobley scored 38 points and nailed the go-ahead 3-pointer as the Rockets dominated the final five minutes of a 101-98 victory over the the Seattle SuperSonics.

Houston trailed 88-81 with 6:58 remaining but used a 13-0 run to take control. A 3-pointer by Steve Francis with 5:49 left cut the deficit to 88-86 and Mobley drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key on the Rockets' next possession.

"I told the guys that we were down by seven and we've got to get a sense of urgency," Mobley said. "We had to do something and right then, things started to go our way."

NBA TV highlights from Sonics-Rockets: 56k | 300k Kenny Thomas outscored both the Sonics' starting forwards, 16 to 14. Bill Baptist NBAE/Getty Images

"This is the second game in a row where we executed in the fourth quarter and made the stops," Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "A lot of times you can play good and not shoot well. It's good to have that kind of shooting because it's contagious.

Another 3-pointer by Eddie Griffin capped the spurt and stretched the lead to 92-88 with 4:41 to go.

Seattle finally ended its drought on jumpers by Gary Payton and Desmond Mason that got the Sonics within 94-92 with just under two minutes to play. But Kenny Thomas scored six consecutive points and the Rockets made their foul shots down the stretch.

Thomas had 16 points, his final six coming on inside moves against Seattle center Jerome James. He also had four points during Houston's key run.

"I was just trying to put the ball on the floor and go to the hole," Thomas said. "It feels good for them to go to me in clutch situations like that."

Four players scored in double figures for the Rockets. Francis just missed a triple-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, while Walt Williams chipped in 14 points.

The Rockets were on target from long range, making 11-of-21 3-point attempts. Houston had been shooting 35 percent from the arc.

"Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't," Mobley said. "We were lucky tonight that they went in. It's the same style we always play."

Seattle had won 11 of its previous 14 games. The Sonics appeared poised for another solid effort until their defense softened.

Mobley and Payton traded driving layups that left the game tied at 76-76 after three quarters.

The Sonics outscored the Rockets, 12-5, after a jumper by Brent Barry with 7:37 left. But they went without a basket for just over four minutes as the Rockets took over.

"We lost some of the aggression we've been playing with," Barry said. "Tonight they beat us with their game, and we didn't want that to happen."

"We weren't executing like we should," Payton added. "They made some shots and we took some bad shots. We got punished for it and that's what happened."

Payton led the Sonics with 24 points and Barry added 20 points. Seattle, the league's top shooting team, clicked at 51 percent (43-of-85).