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, Guard Brent Barry, Guard Aaron Brooks, Forward Chuck Hayes.
PLAYER NOTES: --C Yao Ming had taken just four shots through the game's first 22 minutes, but when the Rockets emphasized him, he and their offense in general took off, with Yao scoring 10 of his 19 points in the third quarter.
--G Ron Artest scored a game-high 26 points, making 9 of 15 shots and adding seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. His five 3-pointers matched his career-high, duplicating his 5 of 7 shooting from beyond the arc also in Toyota Center when he played for the Sacramento Kings.
? --F Luis Scola had 12 points and 10 rebounds and a season-high-tying three steals. He has a career-best four-consecutive double-doubles, 19 so far this season.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G Luther Head (sore right foot) is out indefinitely.
--F Tracy McGrady (sore left knee) is out indefinitely.
