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, Forward Chuck Hayes, guard Brent Barry.
PLAYER NOTES: --C Yao Ming struggled with Nuggets center Nene and foul trouble all night. He had just 15 points and seven rebounds when he fouled out after just 27 minutes, fouling Chauncey Billups near mid-court with 2:33 left. He did block three shots and held Nene to 4-of-15 shooting.
--F Carl Landry was concerned he might be slowed after turning his ankle in the first half Sunday, but he returned to that game and then played 29 minutes the next night, making 5-of-9 shots for 12 points. He helped key the Rockets' run back from a 10-point first-half deficit, getting their offense out of an early funk.
--G Ron Artest led the Rockets in scoring for the sixth time in 10 games, scoring 22 points and grabbing six rebounds with four steals. His biggest play, however, might have been a pass to Shane Battier for a 3-pointer with 1:02 left that gave the Rockets a 92-85 lead and was their last field goal of the game.
MEDICAL WATCH:
---G Tracy McGrady (sore left knee) is out.
--F Joey Dorsey (plantar fasciitis) is out.
