RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) _ Derrick Coleman scored 18 points, offsetting another strong performance by Houston rookie Steve Francis, as the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Rockets 104-91 in an exhibition game Monday.

Coleman scored eight of his points during a 6 1/2 minute stretch of the second quarter as the Hornets turned a six-point deficit into a 54-41 halftime advantage.

Francis, the second player chosen in the draft, led all scorers with 26 points, including several spectacular dunks.

He scored 27 a night earlier in a loss at Orlando.

Francis helped give Houston to a 37-31 lead with 6:20 in the second quarter. But when Francis and Hakeem Olajuwon went to the bench, the Hornets took over.

Coleman and Charlotte's own rookie point guard, Baron Davis, each scored eight points to help their team outscore the Rockets 23-1 before Bryce Drew hit a 3-pointer with one second left in the half.

With its starters back in the game for the third quarter, Houston climbed back into the game by outscoring Charlotte 14-2 early in the period. Olajuwon had six of the points and finished with 10.

The Rockets (1-3) closed to 58-56 with 6:37 remaining in the period on a free throw by Francis. But the Hornets gradually pulled away again, outscoring the Rockets 30-25 in the fourth quarter.

Charlotte's Eddie Jones, despite missing most of the second half with five fouls, finished with 16 points. Anthony Mason had 15 and Bobby Phills added 14.

Houston's Charles Barkley was unable to play for the third straight game with a strained right elbow.