Grizzlies, Rockets battle at FedExForum

Yao, who has been sidelined since December 18 with a toe injury, will travel with the team, but his status is unclear. The most likely scenario, though, is that he will return on Wednesday when the Rockets host Milwaukee.

Houston slipped to 9-13 without their 7-foot-6 star on Sunday, as it was on the wrong end of a 101-95 decision to the Miami Heat at the Toyota Center. Tracy McGrady had 37 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the Rockets, who have dropped two in a row.

Rafer Alston tallied a season-high 26 points with seven boards for Houston, which lost for the 10th time in 13 outings.

Houston, which will begin a brief two-game homestand after tonight’s tilt, is 11-13 away from home this season.

Memphis, meanwhile, comes in on a losing note as well after falling to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, 95-86, at home on Saturday. Pau Gasol scored 25 points with 16 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who lost for the third time in their last four games.

Bobby Jackson added 22 points and Mike Miller donated 11 off the bench in the loss.

Memphis, which will close a three-game homestand against the red-hot Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, is 14-7 in its arena this season. After that the Grizz start a six-game, 10-day road trip.

Houston has lost twice already this season to the Grizzlies and have dropped three of the last four and six of the last 10 meetings. The Rockets have also lost two straight, four of five and seven of nine as the visitor in this series.