Yao's 29 points, 15 rebounds help Rockets to win
(AP )
Updated: 2006-02-23 15:50

"Our season goes up and down and we are going to find a way to get it back," Clippers guard Sam Cassell said. "We don't have a monkey on our back. We have a gorilla."

Brand led Los Angeles with 32 points and 12 rebounds for his 30th double-double of the season. Brand is the only player in the NBA in the top-10 in both scoring and rebounding this season.

Mobley finished with 30 points and five 3-pointers.

McGrady stole a rebound from the Clippers then knocked it back in-bounds to a wide-open Yao who hit the easy shot to open the second half.

That was the best moment of the third for the Rockets. From there the Clippers went on 17-8 run to get back in the game and cut the lead to 69-62.

Hot shooting by Mobley and Cassell and sloppy play by the Rockets allowed the Clippers to cut a 14-point halftime lead to 80-76 at the end of three.

Cassell and Mobley, both former Rockets, combined for 17 points in the third quarter. Los Angeles got within three points two times, with one coming when Mobley hit two quick 3s to make it 71-68.

Yao hit a layup and McGrady added two straight 3s of his own to help the Rockets pull ahead 79-70.

But Cassell wouldn't go away, taking advantage of two turnovers by the Rockets, to score four more points in the third.

Rafer Alston, who had nine points and 11 assists for Houston, said the team has to learn to maintain its intensity throughout games.

"With a good team like that, you have to be ready for that kind of run," he said. "And understand that they're going to come out of the locker room with a certain kind of fire."

David Wesley added 21 points for the Rockets and made four 3-pointers.

The Clippers had a 31-30 lead early in the second quarter before Houston went on a 14-4 run to go ahead 44-35.