ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Aaron Brooks, Shooting guard Ron Artest, Small forward Shane Battier, Power forward Luis Scola, Center Yao Ming. Bench -- Guard Kyle Lowry, Guard Von Wafer, Forward Carl Landry.
PLAYER NOTES: --C Yao Ming went through a game very much like his other game against Shaquille O'Neal this season, not scoring quite as much, rebounding more and getting the win. Yao had 15 points, two fewer than O'Neal, but out-rebounded him 13-5. The biggest difference might have been getting a season-high six assists for a second consecutive game.
--G Aaron Brooks scored a career-high 30 points, hitting seven of 11 shots in the second half including the game winning drive with 7.3 seconds remaining.
--G Ron Artest scored 21 points, hitting two jumpers in the final two-and-a-half minutes to help hold off the Suns' comeback. Matched up with a hobbled Grant Hill for 25 minutes, he held Hill scoreless.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G Tracy McGrady (sore left knee) is out.
--F Joey Dorsey (plantar fasciitis) is out.
