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There is one cardinal rule that applies in the National Basketball Association, especially if you want to be a successful franchise: Win the majority of your home games.

The Houston Rockets, prior to their game Monday against the Milwaukee Bucks at Toyota Center, were attempting to erase a four-game losing streak at the Houston venue.

During that streak, they lost at home by an average of 5 points a game, blowing 16-point leads in two of the last three and lost in overtime.

Luckily for them, Kevin Martin was in the zone. Martin scored a game-high 36 points, allowing Houston to end their home losing streak at four and defeat Milwaukee 93-84.

The Rockets had the shooting touch first as Martin’s second dunk of the game gave Houston a six-point lead. The Bucks missed 14 of their first 19 shots – some of them gimme layups.

Early in the second quarter, Houston got a scare when the Bucks’ Drew Gooden blocked Jordan Hill’s shot, and Hill landed hard on his side. As it turned out, Hill got the wind knocked out of him; Hill converted both free throws for a 22-19 lead.

Luis Scola’s jumper just before the horn tied the game for both clubs at 39 at the intermission.

Scola scored seven points in the first six minutes of the third to pull the Rockets even at 53-all; Shane Battier made the Rockets’ first three-pointer of the game with 1:35 left in the quarter and Martin’s free throws in the last minute put Houston ahead 70-64.

Scola and Martin combined to score 22 points in the third and the Rockets took a 74-66 advantage into the fourth quarter.

Houston missed nine of its first 10 shots in the final period, but the Bucks could not take advantage as Hill hit a jumper, increasing the Rockets’ lead to nine and sealing the win.

Martin led all Rockets scorers with a game-high 36 points, along with 2 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal while Scola added 19 with 14 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Hill came off the bench to chip in 10 with 10 rebounds.

The Bucks were led by Corey Maggette with 25 points 3 rebounds and 3 assists while Gooden added 14 with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Keyon Dooling chipped in 12 with 2 rebounds and 4 assists.

Both teams return to action on Wednesday when Houston (19-23) remains at home to host the New York Knicks while Milwaukee (14-24) returns home to host the Washington Wizards.