The Houston Rockets eased to a 100-89 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, in a victory that was marred by a knee injury to seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady.

Luis Scola led Houston (7-4) with 23 points while Yao Ming added 19 points and 12 rebounds, but the Rockets seemed more concerned about McGrady's injury than they were about beating the struggling Thunder (1-10), losers of eight straight games.　　

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (left) blocks a shot by Oklahoma City Thunder center Johan Petro in the first quarter of their NBA game in Oklahoma City on Monday. [AP]

McGrady left the game in the first minute of the second half after aggravating his surgically repaired left knee, which has troubled him in recent seasons.

"Tonight I went back to square one, even before surgery, is how my knee is feeling right now," McGrady told reporters. "My game is really based on athleticism and that's something that I don't have right now.

"It's sharp pain. It almost just seems like I never had surgery. I'm feeling the same pain."

McGrady, who underwent the surgery in the off-season, did not go to the locker room but remained on the bench for the rest of the game after being helped off the court by team trainers.

Ron Artest added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Rockets but also picked up an injury, leaving the floor in the final minute clutching his right ankle and he was still limping after the game.

"People sprain their ankles all the time," Artest said. "It's not a big deal."

Yao also left the game early after making a hook shot with 3:29 to play which put Houston 94-78 ahead. He appeared in some pain after making the shot and joined McGrady on the bench, but told reporters he did not think it was anything serious.

Kevin Durant had 29 points to lead the Thunder, who have now lost nine straight and 15 of 16 to Houston.

Jazz 109, Suns 97

At Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer had 21 points and 15 rebounds, Andrei Kirilenko added 19 points and two big blocks in the fourth quarter, and Utah snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Phoenix.

C.J. Miles scored a season-high 21 points and Brevin Knight had six assists and 12 points, going 6-for-7 from the floor as the Jazz got the Suns in foul trouble and pulled away in the second half.

Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 30 points and eight rebounds.

Spurs 86, Clippers 83

At Los Angeles, Roger Mason's 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds remaining lifted the San Antonio Spurs to an 86-83 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers for their third straight victory.

Mason, who led the Spurs with 21 points, got away from Ricky Davis near the top of the key and had no trouble nailing his third 3-pointer of the game after the Clippers had rallied from an 11-point deficit in the final 6 1/2 minutes.

Tim Duncan had 20 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots.

(Agencies via China Daily November 19, 2008)