Rockets hanging on without Yao

Yao is expected to be sidelined into February. Houston is 9-2 without Yao.

The Rockets are a solid 25-13 and sit in third place in the Southwest Division. They trail the division-leading Dallas Mavericks by 5 1/2 games and are just one game behind the second place San Antonio Spurs.

Southwest Division rivals battle on Tuesday, as the Mavericks and Rockets put their four-game winning streaks on the line at American Airlines Center. On November 4th, Yao poured in 36 points as the Rockets routed the Mavericks, 107-76, at the Toyota Center.

Dallas has won two straight and four of its last five at Houston. The Mavericks have won five in a row in this series.

The Rockets play the finale of a three-game road trip against the Mavericks. On Saturday, All-Star Tracy McGrady scored 37 points and dished out nine assists as the Rockets outlasted the Sacramento Kings, 115-111, in overtime at ARCO Arena.

Rafer Alston scored 22 points and handed out eight assists in the win for the Rockets, while Juwan Howard scored 17 points and Luther Head netted 14 in the victory. Dikembe Mutombo registered a double-double with 11 points and 18 rebounds.

Houston is 12-10 on the road this season. The Rockets return home to host Phoenix on Wednesday and Denver on Saturday.

The Rockets have scored 100 or more points in five of their last eight outings. They are 11-2 when they reach the century mark this season.