(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-10 13:50

NEW YORK - Yao Ming scored 36 points, and the Houston Rockets got big final quarters from Rafer Alston and Luis Scola to beat the New York Knicks 101-92 Wednesday night for their season-high fourth straight victory.

Houston Rockets Yao Ming, of China, reacts after dunking the ball during first half basketball action against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008 in New York. [Agencies]

Alston added 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the Rockets, who seized control immediately after Knicks coach Isiah Thomas was ejected in the opening minute of the final quarter when he came onto the floor to argue with referee Eric Lewis.

It was unclear if Thomas made contact with the official before he was thrown out for the first time this season. Going onto the floor doesn't warrant an automatic ejection.

Yao made the technical free throw to give Houston a 78-74 lead, then Scola made a pair of buckets and Alston had a 3-pointer and another jumper in the decisive spurt, giving the Rockets an 87-76 advantage with 6:43 remaining.

The Rockets improved to 6-2 since All-Star guard Tracy McGrady went out of the lineup with a strained tendon in his left knee. Scola finished with 19 points, nine in the final quarter.

Jamal Crawford scored 21 points, Nate Robinson had 16 and Stephon Marbury 15 for the Knicks, who won Tuesday in Chicago but failed to match their season high of two straight victories.

The Rockets, who beat the Knicks five days ago in Houston, have won the last seven meetings, including five straight in New York. Yao added 11 rebounds and Chuck Hayes grabbed 13.

The Knicks overcame a dismal start to play the Rockets evenly for the first three quarters in the opener of a four-game homestand that probably determines if they have any realistic hope of keeping the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff picture in sight.

The Knicks missed their first 12 shots and were down 10-0 before Quentin Richardson's two free throws 3 1/2 minutes into the game brought a mock cheer from the crowd. New York didn't make a field goal until the period was half over, but trailed only 25-19 after Marbury made a layup as time expired.

The Rockets led most of the second quarter before the Knicks ran off 10 straight points, the final five from Crawford, to take a 48-43 lead with 1:23 remaining. Nate Robinson banked in a 3-pointer over Yao to beat the buzzer and send New York to the break leading 53-50.

New York pushed the lead to six in the third quarter, but the Rockets tied it at 67 when Yao completed a three-point play after he was fouled while dunking over Malik Rose. Yao's two free throws with 9.4 seconds left gave Houston a 75-74 lead after three.