Hornets move three games to New Orleans

The New Orleans Hornets Thursday reached an agreement to play three games at the New Orleans Arena in March and move two games scheduled in Baton Rouge, La., this month to their temporary home in Oklahoma.

In their first games in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets will face the Los Angeles Lakers on March 8, the Denver Nuggets on March 18 and the Los Angeles Clippers on March 21.

Also, the Hornets will play their games Jan. 13 against Sacramento and Jan. 18 against Memphis in Oklahoma instead of in Baton Rouge.

On the court

Rockets 90, Cavaliers 81: Tracy McGrady scored 34 points, Juwan Howard made two late jumpers and getting-healthier-by-the-day Houston beat Cleveland for its second straight quality road win.

Pacers 99, Warriors 89: Stephen Jackson had 27 points, five rebounds and three assists and Indiana jumped to a quick lead it nearly relinquished in the waning moments of a road victory over Golden State at Oakland, Calif.

Around the league

The Hornets waived forward Sean Banks. … Zendon Hamilton was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers hours before the club would have had to pay his full $719,000 salary. … Houston center Yao Ming has begun workouts and said he expects to return to action in two to three weeks after surgery on an infected big toe.