The injury-riddled Rockets continue their season-long six-game homestand Tuesday night against a New Jersey Nets team looking to rebound from a pre-All-Star game slide.

Houston (32-21), which has won four straight and 16 of 19 at home, goes for its sixth victory in a row against the Nets. But it's unclear whether Tracy McGrady will be in uniform Tuesday, or for the remainder of the season. McGrady missed the Rockets' last game before the All-Star break - a 94-82 win over Sacramento on Wednesday - with soreness in his left knee.

The Houston forward, who has been sidelined 17 games in 2008-09 with pain caused by last May's arthroscopic surgery, had an MRI last Wednesday that showed no further damage to the knee. McGrady said he's unsure when he'll return.

"We sure do need him on the court," guard Rafer Alston said Wednesday after handing out a season-high 13 assists. "This team understands we need him on the floor. His health issues are as important as anything. We don't want an ailing Tracy McGrady on the floor. We want a healthy Tracy McGrady."

Houston, though, may not need him. The Rockets are 12-6 this season without McGrady in the lineup.

Yao Ming, who missed back-to-back games Jan. 25-26 with a sore right knee, posted his 24th double-double of the season Wednesday with 24 points and 18 boards.

Yao has three straight double-doubles against the Nets, including the Rockets' 114-91 win on Dec. 22 when he had 24 points and 16 rebounds.

Although the Rockets are still challenging for home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs - Houston is fifth in the Western Conference - Yao realizes that recurring injuries have stunted the team's development.

"A good team is not built in one day," he said. "We are not like the Celtics with a Big Three. I think we will need some time."

After winning a season-high four straight from Jan. 31-Feb. 7, the Nets (24-29) stumbled into the All-Star break with back-to-back losses, including a 108-93 defeat to visiting San Antonio last Tuesday.

Vince Carter, who missed last Sunday's 101-84 loss at Orlando with a sore right elbow, scored 15 of his 25 points in the second quarter against the Spurs.

"I tried to move the ball, get guys open and soften them up. It didn't work," he said.

Carter has struggled in his last two games in Houston, averaging just 13.5 points on 31.3 percent shooting. In the Nets' last victory against the Rockets - 90-77 in Houston on March 13, 2006 - Carter had 29 points, six boards and seven assists.

All-Star guard Devin Harris looks to maintain his torrid shooting Tuesday. After making just 37.5 percent of his shots in six games between Jan. 24-Feb. 3, Harris is scoring 25.8 points per game and shooting 48.5 percent during his last four contests.

Harris, however, managed only 10 points and an assist as the Nets dropped their last game in Houston, 91-73 on March 10.