Yao, McGrady Rockets hold on to beat Nuggets 89-78
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-04 13:04

Tracy McGrady scored 23 points and Yao Ming added 21 as the Houston Rockets finally held onto a lead to beat the Denver Nuggets 89-78 on Friday night.

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (11), of China, hangs on the rim after dunking, as Denver Nuggets' Kenyon Martin looks down during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 3, 2006, in Houston. Houston won 89-78. [AP]

The Rockets had squandered double-digit second-half leads in their last two losses to Philadelphia and Phoenix.

But on Friday they overcame an eight-point deficit midway through the second quarter and didn't trail again.

Andre Miller's nifty reverse layup got Denver within 76-70 with about 6 minutes left. But a 3-pointer by Rafer Alston followed by a monster two-handed dunk by Yao extended Houston's lead to 81-70.

Yao followed his dunk with a block on Kenyon Martin that sent the ball flying into the crowd and the Nuggets wouldn't threaten again.

Denver got 34 points from Carmelo Anthony in his best outing since the All-Star break, but he didn't get much help and only scored four points in the fourth. The Nuggets second-leading scorer was Marcus Camby with 10 points.

Houston outscored Denver 14-4 in the opening minutes of the third quarter, led by Yao's eight points, to build its two-point halftime lead to 60-48.

Anthony single-handedly led a comeback as he outscored the Rockets 12-4 in the next few minutes to cut the lead to 64-60.

Denver got within 66-63 after a 3-pointer by Marcus Camby, but Alston answered with a 3 and then McGrady added two free throws and a 3-pointer to stretch the lead back to 73-62 near the end of the third.

The Rockets got a spark from the return of forward Stromile Swift, who scored 15 points and had six rebounds after missing the last five games with a sprained ankle. Rookie Luther Head added eight points and had two 3s.

The Nuggets led 24-16 at the end of the first, spurred by 12 points by Anthony and seven turnovers by the Rockets.

Anthony sat out the first six minutes of the second quarter and the Rockets were able to tie the game at 30 with a 3-pointer by Head.

The game was tied at 35 when Houston went on a 9-2 run capped by a 3 by McGrady to take a 42-37 lead.

It's the Rockets first win of the season over Denver after the Nuggets won the first two.