ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Aaron Brooks, Shooting guard Ron Artest, Small forward Shane Battier, Power forward Luis Scola, Center Chuck Hayes. Bench -- Guard Kyle Lowry, Guard Von Wafer, Forward Carl Landry.
PLAYER NOTES: --G Aaron Brooks led the Rockets in scoring for a third-consecutive game, pouring in 26 points, including eight in the fourth-quarter run that helped put the game away. He made 8 of 13 shots, including 3 of 4 3-pointers, adding four assists, three rebounds and two steals.
--F Luis Scola got the Rockets off to a flying start, scoring 14 of his 24 points in the first quarter. He made 10 of 17 shots to get his career high in scoring, and added 12 rebounds.
--F Carl Landry gave the Rockets a huge lift in the second half, scoring 13 of his 15 points off the bench. He made all six of his shots and added nine rebounds.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--C Yao Ming (hairline fracture, left foot) is out.
--F Tracy McGrady (microfracture surgery, left knee) is out.
--C Dikembe Mutombo (rupture left knee tendon) is out.
