Cassel drops 31 in return from injury

Returning from a seven game absence, Sam Cassell scored 31 points and the Los Angeles Clippers started to look healthy again in a 100-90 win Monday night against the New Orleans Hornets at Oklahoma City.

Desmond Mason led the Hornets with 28.

•In other Clipper’s news, Luke Jackson, a former first-round draft choice of the Cleveland Cavaliers, has signed a 10-day contract with L.A.

Rockets 84, Bulls 77: At Chicago, Tracy McGrady scored 25 of his 31 points in the second half and hit the go-ahead jumper to lift Houston over Chicago. It was his fifth 30-point game in the last six.

Juwan Howard added 16 points and nine rebounds, and Dikembe Mutombo grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds for the Rockets.

Nuggets 104, Bucks 92: At Denver, Earl Boykins scored 26 points and Allen Iverson had 23 to lead Denver past Milwaukee.

The Bucks were without injured guard Michael Redd, who will be out four to six weeks, and lost his backcourt mate Mo Williams during the game. Ruben Patterson started in Redd’s spot and scored 29 points and had 11 boards.