?? ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Rafer Alston, Shooting guard Tracy McGrady, Small forward Ron Artest, Power forward Luis Scola, Center Yao Ming. Bench -- Guard Brent Barry, Guard Aaron Brooks, Guard Luther Head, Guard Von Hayes, Forward Chuck Hayes, Forward Carl Landry, Forward Shane Battier.
?? PLAYER NOTES: ?? --F Ron Artest's season-long shooting struggles continued. With Artest hitting just 5 of 18 shots, he is making 34.4 percent this season and is averaging 18.3 points per 48 minutes, the seventh most on the Rockets.
?? --C Yao Ming had a solid line, scoring 18 points with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots. But after scoring 6 of the Rockets first 8 points, he never took over the game again, and made just one shot in the second half.
?? --G Aaron Brooks gave the Rockets a much needed offensive spark, scoring 15 points on just eight shots, adding four assists and three rebounds in just 24 minutes.
?? MEDICAL WATCH:
?? --G Tracy McGrady (sore left knee) sat out the last three games and will go for a third opinion on his knee.
--F Shane Battier (sore left foot) was not with the team in Denver with doctors believing he is not ready to play in a back-to-back, particularly with travel, but is expected back Wednesday.
--G Brent Barry (strained right calf) missed the weekend's back-to-back and is listed as day-to-day.
?? --G Steve Francis (knee surgery) went through his second full practice in the past week, but is still out rehabilitating after last February's knee surgery.
