Without McGrady, Rockets lose to Hornets
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-07 09:13

The Rockets missed eight of their last nine shots. Their only basket was a turnaround by Yao with 1:14 left.

Paul answered with a running one-hander with 53 seconds left and had another one with 15 seconds remaining for an 89-84 lead.

Early on, the Rockets missed McGrady's defense as much as his scoring.

The Hornets sank nine of their first 13 shots and led 19-8 midway through the first quarter.

Van Gundy tinkered with lineups to generate some offense and finally found one that worked. With Houston trailing 34-24, Yao and Anderson joined reserves Stromile Swift, Jon Barry and rookie Luther Head on the floor and the quintet outscored the Hornets 20-11.

Yao secured his 86th career double-double in the third quarter then was at the center of the game's ugliest moment in the final minute.

Desmond Mason drove to the basket and was blocked by Yao. Mason dove to the floor for the loose ball and Yao went down on top of him, earning a jump ball.

When Mason got up, he flipped over Yao, and the two shouted at each other. The players on the floor crowded together and Juwan Howard shoved Rasual Butler.

Referee Tom Washington pulled Mason out of the scrum and tempers cooled as both coaches came onto the floor. Mason and Howard got technical fouls.

At first, the incident didn't seem to faze Yao. He won the ensuing jump ball with Mason, then got two blocks in the fourth quarter to match his career high.

But Brown began dominating Yao late, hitting two medium-range jumpers over him as the Hornets took control.