Yao and Rockets land in Washington

On Saturday, Larry Hughes scored a season-high 43 points to lead the Wizards to a 94-87 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in front of their home crowd. Kwame Brown contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Wizards, who beat an Atlantic Division opponent for the first time in 10 tries this season.

Jarvis Hayes added 10 points and seven rebounds in the win for Washington, which snapped a four-game skid and won for just the second time in 11 games.

Prior to Sunday’s game, the Wizards placed guard Gilbert Arenas on the injured list with an abdominal strain. Arenas is expected to miss three to six weeks with the injury that has put him on the IL three times this season.

The Wizards, who have won two of their last three at home, are 6-9 as the host this season.

The Rockets were defeated by the Boston Celtics, 97-93, on Sunday at the Toyota Center.

Jim Jackson scored 26 points to lead the Rockets, who lost for just the second time in six games. Steve Francis contributed 19 points and seven assists in a losing effort.

Yao scored just six points and grabbed nine rebounds in 23 minutes in the loss to Boston.

Houston, which has won three of its last six away from home, is 8-11 on the road this season.

In 2002-03, the teams split a pair of contests as each club won on its homecourt.

Overall, Houston has won four of the last six meetings with the Wizards. The Rockets have lost three of five and four of their last seven at Washington.