Washington Wizards rookie John Wall recorded his first triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the team to a 98-91 victory over Houston.
Washington used a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter on Wednesday to pull away after blowing an 11-point lead.
Andray Blatche finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards.
Kevin Martin scored 31 points for the Rockets, who have lost six of seven.
Rockets star Yao Ming missed most of the game after he strained a tendon in his left leg in the first quarter. The Rockets said his return is questionable.
"It looked like somewhere around the ankle," Yao said. "Tomorrow we'll have a scan and a detailed checkout - until tomorrow I can't tell you anything."
Yao played the opening 6:14 of the game and did not return. He did not score and grabbed one rebound. He sat out the entire 2009-10 season after undergoing surgery to repair his broken left foot.
The Rockets have been limiting Yao's minutes early in the season and before the game coach Rick Adelman said no decision had been made on increasing his playing time. "He is coming off a 15, 16 month layoff. He's not the Yao from two years ago," Adelman said.
Yao entered the contest averaging 12.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
In other games, it was: Mavericks 106, Grizzlies 91; Jazz 104, Magic 94; Bobcats 101, Raptors 96; Bucks 108, Hawks 91; Warriors 122, Knicks 117; Nets 95, Cavaliers 87; Thunder 109, 76ers 103; Timberwolves 98, Kings 89; and Spurs 107, Clippers 95.
In Memphis, the Dallas Mavericks rode the hot shooting of Jason Terry to pull away from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Terry scored a game-high 25 points and made 11-of-16 shots as the Mavericks (5-2) improved to 3-0 on the road.
Shawn Marion added 20 points to supplement a quiet night from German forward Dirk Nowitzki, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds despite suffering an ankle injury towards the end of the first half.
Nowitzki returned in the second half and played the rest of the contest.
"My teammates got me involved and we were out there feeding off of each other and just doing what we've got to do to win," Marion said.
In Orlando, Florida, the Jazz notched another stunning comeback victory to defeat the Magic 104-94.
A night after coming from 22 points down to beat the star-studded Miami Heat, Utah this time was 18 points behind in the third quarter before an impressive rally.
Deron Williams scored 30 points and Paul Millsap added 23 for the Jazz.
Vince Carter had 20 points for the Magic, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.
In San Antonio, the hosts won their fifth straight, overcoming an undermanned Los Angeles.
Manu Ginobili and Richard Jefferson scored 22 points apiece for the Spurs.