The AP reports: The Houston Rockets will have to win games the hard way until Tracy McGrady gets healthy. Yao Ming had 24 points, Rafer Alston sank five 3-pointers and added 21, and the Rockets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 103-96 on Wednesday night. Ron Artest scored 19 points and Yao grabbed 10 rebounds and went 12-for-13 from the free throw line for the Rockets, who played their fourth straight game without McGrady. The seven-time All-Star is out three weeks with a sore left knee… Al Thornton scored 24 and Zach Randolph had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who’ve dropped six of seven road games this season. Baron Davis had 13 points and nine assists, despite leaving in the first quarter with apparent food poisoning. He started the second half and never came out of the game again, playing 34 minutes in all.
