Okur sinks reeling Rockets

Mehmet Okur had 20 points, 17 rebounds and a decisive 3-pointer, and the Utah Jazz took advantage of Tracy McGrady’s sudden absence on Tuesday night to beat the host Houston Rockets 82-74.

McGrady scored 21 points in the first half, then left the arena when he learned his fiancee was going into labor at a local hospital. Rockets spokesman Nelson Luis said after the game that Clerenda Harris gave birth to a boy, and the couple named him Laymen Lamar.

Houston’s offense crumbled without McGrady – the Rockets went 12 of 42 (29 percent) and mustered an anemic 33 points in the second half of another dismal home-court defeat.

The Jazz built a seven-point lead, but the Rockets pulled to 72-68 on an awkward bank shot by Juwan Howard. Devin Brown scored seconds later and Okur sank a 3-pointer with 1:25 left, sending frustrated Rockets fans to the exits.

Howard had 19 points and David Wesley added 14 for Houston, which fell to 3-8 at the Toyota Center this season.

In the first half, McGrady looked like he was ready to have a huge night.

Guarded by Andrei Kirilenko, McGrady scored eight points in the opening 4 minutes and led the Rockets to an early six-point lead.

The Jazz mounted a 9-2 run early in the second as McGrady and the Rockets missed eight of their first nine shots.

Luther Head ended Houston’s drought with a 3-pointer and Houston took a 41-36 halftime lead. Besides his 21 points, McGrady also had five assists, four rebounds and two blocks in the opening half.

But that was the end of McGrady’s night on the court. Luis got a call from one of McGrady’s assistants, trainer Keith Jones relayed the news to McGrady, and McGrady left for the hospital without speaking to reporters.

Bobcats 93, Hawks 90: At Atlanta, Primoz Brezec made the go-ahead basket in the final seconds and Brevin Knight scored 22 points as Charlotte beat the Hawks. Al Harrington led Atlanta with 19 points and seven assists. He was 8 for 12 from the field before missing his last six shots.

Heat 109, Bucks 98: At Miami, Dwyane Wade scored 35 points and the Heat beat Milwaukee. Shaquille O’Neal added 23 points, and Jason Williams had 18, including nine during a 19-9 run in the opening six minutes of the second half. Reserve Maurice Williams came off the bench to score 24 points for Milwaukee.

•Bucks point guard T.J. Ford left 4:41 into the game after he was fouled hard by James Posey on a drive to the basket. He was diagnosed with a sprained left foot.

Pistons 113, Raptors 106: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Richard Hamilton scored 24 points, Chauncey Billups had 21 points and 13 assists, and Detroit beat Toronto for its eighth straight win. Chris Bosh scored a career-high 37 points and had 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who fell to a league-worst 6-22.

Nets 96, Cavaliers 91: At East Rutherford, N.J., Richard Jefferson scored 28 points, and New Jersey extended its winning streak to seven with a victory over Cleveland. Jefferson was 9 of 11 from the field, a night after going 8 for 8 in a win at New York. LeBron James had 31 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, but the Cavs’ six-game win streak was snapped.

Spurs 99, Pacers 86: At San Antonio, Tony Parker scored 27 points, Manu Ginobili sparked the decisive run in his return from an injury, and the Spurs pulled away to beat Indiana. Ginobili, who missed eight games with a sprained right foot, made a free throw and a layup to start the 16-3 run as the Spurs held Indiana without a basket for more than 4 1/2 minutes beginning late in the third.

76ers 108, Nuggets 106: At Denver, Allen Iverson scored 36 points, including the game-winner, and Philadelphia overcame Carmelo Anthony’s career-high 45 to beat Denver. Chris Webber added 32 points and 15 rebounds, none bigger than the one in the final minute that set up Iverson’s winning shot with 4.2 seconds remaining.

Kings 110, Clippers 93: At Los Angeles, Mike Bibby scored 17 of his season-high 38 points in the third quarter and added a season-best 10 assists, and Sacramento snapped a five-game losing streak with their 10th straight victory over the Clippers.