NBA roundup Monday’s other games

Rockets 107, Heat 98

MIAMI — Yao Ming scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Ron Artest scored 20 and the Rockets finished off a perfect three-game road trip against the Eastern Conference. Rafer Alston added 14 points for Houston, which finished with seven players in double figures and outrebounded Miami 51-35. Dwyane Wade scored 23 points for Miami, doing so on 7-for-23 shooting. Mario Chalmers added a career-best 23, including five 3-pointers, for the Heat, who also got 17 points from Shawn Marion and 14 from Michael Beasley. The Rockets finished their Eastern Conference road swing 3-0, marking only the fourth time in the last 12 years that they were perfect on a trip lasting at least three games. Yahhouba Diawara finished with a season-high 12 points for Miami. Luis Scola had 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Carl Landry and Aaron Brooks each scored 11 for Houston. By now, the Heat — who have the smallest starting lineup in the NBA, with 6-foot-8 Udonis Haslem at center — are used to dealing with some major lack-of-size disadvantages. But facing the 7-foot-6 Yao clearly exacerbated the issue, something the Rockets happily exploited. Miami would always have someone helping Haslem against Yao, even two people dropping into the lane at times, so the Rockets’ center often took what the Heat defense gave and found someone who was open. It wasn’t coincidence: With Yao on the floor in the first half, the Rockets were 5-for-7 on 3-point tries, 2-for-4 with him on the bench.

Spurs 94, Grizzlies 81

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Manu Ginobili scored 12 points in his first game of the season to help the Spurs beat the Grizzlies. Ginobili missed San Antonio’s first 12 games after off-season ankle surgery. He entered the game with 5:34 left in the first quarter and promptly made his first two shots, the first from outside the arc and the second on a dunk. He played 11 minutes. Rookie George Hill scored 20 points and Roger Mason added 18 to lead the Spurs. Tim Duncan added 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for San Antonio, which has won five of its last six games. O.J. Mayo scored 23 of his 26 points in the second half to lead Memphis.

Bobcats 93, 76ers 84

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — D.J. Augustin scored 25 points and added a career-high 11 assists, backcourt mate Raymond Felton added 23 points, and the Bobcats used their new speedy and tiny lineup to beat the 76ers. The 6-foot Augustin and the 6-1 Felton had their best game together since coach Larry Brown inserted the rookie Augustin in the starting lineup three games ago. They helped the Bobcats snap a four-game losing streak despite another meek performance from Charlotte’s front line that somehow the 76ers couldn’t take advantage of. Elton Brand had 18 points, but made only 6 of 13 shots and fouled out with under a minute left. Andre Iguodala added 17 points for the Sixers, who shot 40 percent and had their two-game winning streak snapped.

Magic 108, Bucks 101

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard had 24 points and 13 rebounds to help the Magic. Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis each added 22 points for the Magic. Richard Jefferson scored 25 points to lead Milwaukee, which lost Andrew Bogut to a left knee bruise in the third quarter. The Magic saw point guard Jameer Nelson leave with a groin strain. Orlando led by 12 with just under two minutes left, but poor free throw shooting and Jefferson almost brought the Bucks back. His short jumper with 24 seconds left cut the lead to 103-100, but free throws by Turkoglu and Lewis sealed the win.

Associated Press