The Rockets need it now.

With the Rockets pursuing Mutombo since the salary-saving move of Steve Francis to Memphis on Christmas Eve, Yao Ming had been calling Mutombo repeatedly. The morning after the Rockets' loss to the Wizards, however, he said he needed Mutombo back and that was the clincher.

Mutombo said he would take the Rockets' veteran's minimum offer that day and signed on New Year's Eve.

"I felt a lot of pressure," Mutombo said. "Yao Ming and Tracy (McGrady) every day calling me, (saying) 'We need you. We need your leadership in the locker room. We need your spirit, something to get us going.'

"Yao called (Tuesday) morning and said, 'I don't want to hear bad news. I need to hear good news.'

"There have been so many guys on this team that need my spirit, that I think need my leadership. I found that leaving them would be very sad for my last year playing the game of basketball. I was bombarded by Yao Ming and Tracy (McGrady) for not being in the locker room from the beginning of the season."

Rockets coach Rick Adelman said Mutombo can help in certain matchups against big centers and in practices against Yao. For now, however, the Rockets wanted -- and needed -- his influence and exuberance.

ROCKETS 85, BUCKS 81: Desperate to remove the memory of the painful loss to the Wizards, the Rockets started quickly and energetically. They led by 15 points in the first half. They led by 11 early in the fourth quarter. They never could, however, finish what they started and instead of forgetting the loss, they got a reminder, despite the win. After letting the lead slip to one point, they closed out the win in the final minute by making seven of eight free throws. But with Tracy McGrady, Rafer Alston and Aaron Brooks combining to make only seven of 40 shots, they did not enjoy the win or feel that they made much progress.