HOUSTON (AP) — Terry Rozier scored 26 points and the Charlotte Hornets held off the reeling Houston Rockets 122-117 to snap a five-game skid Wednesday night after LaMelo Ball injured his left ankle again.
The Hornets, who have the worst record in the Eastern Conference, got their first win since Jan. 6 over the hapless Rockets. Houston, which has the NBA’s worst record and hasn’t won since Dec. 26, has lost a season-high 12 straight.
The victory was coach Steve Clifford’s 208th with the team, making him the winningest coach in franchise history. Clifford, who coached Charlotte from 2013-18 before returning this season, passed Allan Bristow, who had 207 wins.
Jalen Green tied a career high with 41 points to lead the Rockets. He scored five points to power an 11-3 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Eric Gordon, that got Houston within 119-116 with 21 seconds left.
Mason Plumlee made one of two free throws after Houston intentionally fouled him. Green was fouled on the other end, and he also went 1 of 2 to leave Charlotte up 120-117.
Jalen McDaniels then hit two free throws to secure the victory.
Clifford raved about how his team stuck together after Ball’s injury early in the third quarter.
“It’s deflating, for sure,” he said. “But I was proud of the guys, the way they hung together and fought hard. Made a bunch of plays there in the fourth quarter.”
Ball sprained his left ankle, another blow to a Hornets team already missing Kelly Oubre Jr., who is out after hand surgery. Ball said after the game he didn’t think the injury was serious and he didn’t plan to have X-rays.
“I can walk and everything, so I’ll just take it day by day and see what it is,” he said.
Ball was injured when P.J. Washington landed on him after jumping for a rebound with about nine minutes left in the…