HOUSTON, Dec 7: Michael Jordan, back in Washington’s line-up after missing one game to rest his knee injury, led the Wizards to an 85-82 victory over the Houston Rockets Thursday.

Jordan, who missed his first game of the season on Tuesday after having fluid drained from his swollen right knee, scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to rally his team to victory.

The 38-year-old NBA legend had not missed a game through injury since 1993 when he was with the Chicago Bulls.

His return appeared to be premature after he made just 4-of-15 shots through three quarters.

But Jordan sparked a key 8-3 fourth-quarter burst with three baskets and an assist as Washington grabbed a 72-65 lead with 5:11 left.

Jordan also had an assist on a clutch jumper by Tyronn Lue with 91 seconds left and finished with 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds in 33 minutes.

Richard Hamilton led Washington with 26 points and Popeye Jones added 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Cuttino Mobley led Houston with 25 points but the struggling Rockets suffered their eighth straight defeat and lost swingman Glen Rice to a foot injury in the third quarter.

Thursday’s results:

Minnesota 105 MEMPHIS 80

Washington 85 HOUSTON 82

MILWAUKEE 95 Toronto 89

Charlotte 95 PORTLAND 89

ISLANDERS WIN

PHILADELPHIA: Garth Snow stopped all 33 shots his former club sent his way and Mariusz Czerkawski scored twice in the first period as the New York Islanders blanked the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0 Thursday.

Thursday’s results :

Toronto 6 NY RANGERS 3

Pittsburgh 4 BOSTON 1

TAMPA BAY 1 Columbus 0

NY Islanders 2 PHILADELPHIA 0

Washington 3 ATLANTA 3

NASHVILLE 4 Ottawa 2

San Jose 3 CALGARY 1

VANCOUVER 3 Anaheim 2

St Louis 1 LOS ANGELES 1

—Reuters