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Rockets hold off James, Cavaliers

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

Yao Ming had 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Houston Rockets overcame a poor night from ailing All-Star Tracy McGrady to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 92-77 on Thursday night.

Rafer Alston had 17 points and nine assists and Shane Battier had 15 points for the Rockets, who’ve won nine of their last 10. Houston outrebounded Cleveland 55-35, the second time the Cavs have been outrebounded by 20 this season.

LeBron James had 32 points and seven rebounds for the Cavaliers, who sorely missed Drew Gooden, their second-leading rebounder. Gooden sat out with a groin injury, the first game he’s missed this season.

McGrady was hospitalized earlier in the day with an upper respiratory infection and strep throat. He arrived at the arena less than an hour before tipoff and scored eight points on 3-for-11 shooting.

•Houston guard Steve Francis will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn quadriceps tendon in his right knee, but expects to play again next season.

76ers 101, Heat 84: At Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored 25 and Andre Miller added 21, leading the 76ers to a victory over Miami.

Willie Green finished with 14 points and Thaddeus Young 11 for Philadelphia.

Dwyane Wade scored 19 points on 5-for-17 shooting, Jason Williams added 14 and Dorell Wright 16 for Miami, which is stuck on nine wins. The Heat have lost 21 of their last 22.

The Sixers held a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter and used a 12-3 run to break the game open.

During Philadelphia’s run, Miami endured a game-deciding 1-for-11 shooting slump.

Bulls 114, Warriors 108: At Oakland, Calif., Chris Duhon scored a career-high 34 points, Joseph Smith had 27 and Chicago hung on for a victory over Golden State, spoiling Chris Webber’s return to the Warriors.

Duhon’s 11-of-16 shooting, four 3-pointers and nine assists carried the Bulls.

Chicago was playing its fourth road game in six nights without three of its top four scorers. The Bulls used just eight players while injured Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich were sidelined.