|
 LOS ANGELES (AP) - Just because the Houston Rockets have clinched a playoff spot, that doesn't necessarily translate into extra rest for Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. McGrady scored 27 points in slightly less than 40 minutes and Yao had 24 points and 15 rebounds during a foul-plagued 34 minutes, leading the Rockets to a 92-87 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
The Rockets, who secured a playoff spot Monday with a win against Milwaukee, are 11-3 since Yao returned to the lineup. The five-time All-Star center missed 32 games healing a bone in his right leg he broke against the Clippers on Dec. 23.
"If we want to play our very best, Tracy and Yao have to play at a high level of efficiency for a lot of minutes," coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "I think that gives us our best chance of winning."
|