Yao Ming scored 24 points, had 10 rebounds and went 12-for-13 from the free throw line to lead the Houston Rockets over the Los Angeles Clippers 103-96 on Wednesday.
Rafer Alston sank five 3-pointers and added 21 points and Ron Artest scored 19 points for the Rockets, who played their fourth straight game without Tracy McGrady. The seven-time all-star is out three weeks with a sore left knee.
"In this three weeks, we need a little bit more from everybody," Yao said. "He (McGrady) is a big part of our team. I think that everybody understands that, and everybody is clear that when we step on the court, we need to really be ready to play."
Al Thornton scored 24 and Zach Randolph had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who've dropped six of seven road games this season.
Yao, guarded by the shorter Randolph most of the game, flipped in a turnaround 20 seconds later and Houston put away the game from the line. The Rockets came in shooting 76.7 percent from the line and the 31 winners in 39 attempts were both season highs.
"That's remarkable whenever a team gets to the line that many times," said Alston, who went 4-for-6 on free throws.
Yao hit his first two shots, but the rest of the Rockets missed 12 of their first 15. Yao also started 8-for-8 from the line to help Houston build an early lead.
Randolph struggled to guard Yao and when the Rockets' center wasn't taking point-blank shots, he was getting swarmed by the Clippers and going to the free-throw line.
"At the beginning of the game, I tried to get a quick score and make them come to double-team me," Yao said. "I know they have a couple of big guys, so we can make some pressure inside."
The Rockets led 87-83 when Yao returned after a rest with 6:07 remaining, and Houston never lost the lead.
Celtics 116, Pacers 96
At Boston, Rajon Rondo notched his first career triple-double and Ray Allen scored 31 points, leading the Boston Celtics over the Indiana Pacers, 114-96 on Wednesday for their 10th straight victory.
Rondo scored 16 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out a career-high 17 assists. Kevin Garnett added 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who matched their longest winning streak since their 2007-08 championship season, a 10-game run from Feb 24-March 12.
Danny Granger led the Pacers with 20 points, while Troy Murphy chipped in with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Cavaliers 118, Knicks 82
At Cleveland, LeBron James scored 21 points and then grabbed an early seat on the bench as Cleveland beat New York to improve to 10-0 on its own floor for the first time in franchise history with its 14th win in 15 games.
Mo Williams added 16 points, Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and none of Cleveland's starters played more than 28 minutes. The 36-point margin of victory was the Cavs' largest in 171 games against New York.
Al Harrington scored 20 points, Anthony Roberson had 19 and David Lee 16 with 16 rebounds for the Knicks, who shot 39 percent and made 28 turnovers.
Lakers 114, 76ers 102
At Philadelphia, Kobe Bryant tormented his hometown team again, scoring 32 points to help Los Angeles rebound from a last-second loss with a victory over Philadelphia.
The Lakers never let the middling Sixers get too close in this one and improved to 15-2 one night after they lost in Indiana on a late tip.
Andre Miller scored 26 points and Andre Iguodala had 19 for the Sixers.
Hornets 104, Suns 91
At New Orleans, Chris Paul had 24 points and 15 assists to lead New Orleans over short-handed Phoenix.
Peja Stojakovic also scored 24 points, highlighted by his five 3-pointers, and David West added 23 points and 14 rebounds for New Orleans, which has won five of its last six games.
Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 26 points, while Leandro Barbosa added 19 and Grant Hill 17. However, the Suns were unable to keep pace with guard Steve Nash sidelined because of an illness. Shaquille O'Neal also sat out for Phoenix, hoping to be fresh when the Suns play Thursday night at Dallas.
Hawks 105, Grizzlies 95
At Atlanta, Joe Johnson scored 26 points, and Mike Bibby had 20 points and 10 assists in Atlanta's victory over Memphis.
The Hawks, who have won three of four and five of seven, welcomed back Josh Smith after their $58 million forward missed the past 12 games with an ankle sprain. In 28 minutes, Smith had 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, four turnovers and one blocked shot.
Rudy Gay finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds as Memphis dropped its season-worst seventh straight.
(Agencies via China Daily December 5, 2008)
