ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Aaron Brooks, Shooting guard Ron Artest, Small forward Shane Battier, Power forward Luis Scola, Center Dikembe Mutombo. Bench -- Guard Kyle Lowry, Guard Von Wafer, Forward Carl Landry, Forward Chuck Hayes.
PLAYER NOTES: --C Dikembe Mutombo, playing for just the ninth time this season, starting with Yao Ming out and got his season highs for minutes (35), points (10), rebounds (15), offensive rebounds (five), defensive rebounds (10) and blocked shots (four.)
--G Aaron Brooks struggled with his shot at times, but made all seven of his free throws including four in the final seconds to seal the win, finishing with 20 points.
--F Luis Scola did not need the usual defensive attention paid to Yao Ming to make up for Yao being out with his top scoring game in his two-year career. Scola made 10 of 15 shots, scoring 28 points while grabbing nine rebounds and getting four assists.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F Tracy McGrady (microfracture surgery, left knee) is out for the season.
--C Yao Ming (sore right foot) is day-to-day.
