"We only have five guys there (at small forward and shooting guard) and will probably end up playing Carl (Landry) there a little bit if we have to," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said.

McGrady went on the Rockets' five-game road trip planning to play one game in the back-to-backs. Artest said that nothing has changed with his condition, but that he could not play the second half of the back-to-back.

"It's the same diagnosis, the same thing, on the same path," Artest said. "Not much has changed, really. I'm going to be fine. But right now is not the time."

--Rockets C Yao Ming had 16 points in the first half, but he did not score again. Caught in Atlanta's double- and triple-teams, he took just one shot in the second half and had three turnovers.

Yao and Adelman said there were things he must do differently, but Adelman also thought officials should more often put him on the line.

"They were coming at him, but we've worked on that," Adelman said. "He's got to be solid when he gets the ball. That one play he made, he doesn't pass the ball off the dribble like that. He's got to pick it up and pass it out. And frankly, I thought he got fouled when he got to the middle. I mean, how many minutes did he play (33)? He shot two free throws again.

"It amazes me how he never gets any calls. When he moves through the lane like that, they don't look at anybody pushing on his body."

Yao, however, said he needs to adjust.

"There have been multiple games I did not get on the free-throw line. Two tonight, four last game," Yao said. "I cannot complain about the referees. I need to find a way myself."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We played inspired. We had the desire tonight and the will to compete. We had a lot of energy. The ball and our bodies were moving." -- Rafer Alston.