Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (11) shoots for two points over Memphis Grizzlies' Stromile Swift (4) in the first half in NBA basketball Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006 in Houston.   Nov. 26 - Yao Ming scored 28 points, Tracy McGrady added 19 points and matched a career high with 13 assists, and the Houston Rockets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 85-76 on Saturday night.

 

Yao and Chuck Hayes each grabbed eight rebounds for the Rockets, who avoided their recent habit of losing fourth-quarter leads to win for the fourth time in five games.

 

Hakim Warrick scored 12 and Rudy Gay and Chucky Atkins added 11 points apiece for the Grizzlies, who fell to 0-7 on the road. Memphis had shot 32 percent in its first six road games and went 26-for-69 from the field (38 percent) in Houston.

 

The Rockets outrebounded the Grizzlies 44-43, the 10th time in 13 games Houston has won the battle of the boards.

 

Houston had been outscored in the final quarter in four of its first five home games, but stayed comfortably ahead this time after building a 65-54 lead after three.

 

Luther Head hit a pair of 3-pointers early in the fourth and McGrady drove for a two-handed, highlight-reel dunk with 7:07 left to put the Rockets up 77-65.

 

McGrady equaled his career high for assists on a pass to Yao for an easy bank shot with 4:44 remaining that put Houston up 81-68.

 

The Rockets improved to 3-2 in the Southwest Division after going 1-15 last season.

 

Houston built an 11-point lead in the first quarter, then sputtered on offense for most of the second.

 

Memphis took a 30-28 lead with a 12-4 run, highlighted by two athletic baskets by Gay. The rookie, whom the Rockets drafted and traded to Memphis for Shane Battier, drove for a one-handed dunk and a layup to tie the game and Mike Miller scored on a drive to finish the spurt.

 

The Rockets missed 15 of their first 17 shots of the second quarter with four turnovers. They trailed 38-32 when Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy angrily called a timeout and McGrady slammed the ball on the court.

 

McGrady's driving layup with 1:07 left in the half ended a 4-minute field-goal drought. Steve Novak swished a 3-pointer from the corner with 35 seconds left to cut Memphis' lead to 38-37.

 

The Rockets were back in rhythm in the third quarter, opening with a 22-10 burst. Yao had two layups and two dunks, the second following a behind-the-back assist from McGrady. Battier's 3-pointer with 5:18 left in the quarter gave the Rockets a 59-49 lead.