Cleveland Cavaliers' Devin Brown (center) drives past New York Knicks' Eddie Curry (left) as Cavaliers' LeBron James looks (right) looks on during the first quarter in New York on Wednesday. The Cavs won 119-105.(Photo: Shanghaidaily.com) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, March 7 -- Losing Yao Ming hasn't caused the Houston Rockets to lose a game at all.

    With Yao gone for the season after injuring his foot, the Rockets keep on rolling. They set a franchise record with their 16th consecutive win on Wednesday night, routing Indiana 117-99 in Houston. The Rockets are 4-0 since the All-Star center was sidelined.

    "It's all about confidence," said Tracy McGrady, who scored 25 points. "We have great chemistry and guys know their roles here. We all are playing so well, we just can't really count on one guy."

    The Cleveland Cavaliers can - as long as it's LeBron James, who had 50 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in a 119-105 win at New York. The Madison Square Garden crowd even chanted "MVP" for the visitor.

    "To get a standing ovation in the greatest basketball arena in the world, it was a dream come true for me," James said. "It's one of the best things that ever happened to me."

    Just as adding Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen is one of the best things to occur in Boston in years. The Celtics became the first postseason qualifier when they beat Detroit 90-78 behind a season-high 31 points from Garnett.

    "All these games count," Garnett said. "We are trying to get home-court advantage."

    Elsewhere in the National Basketball Association, it was: Nuggets 126, Suns 111; Hornets 114, Hawks 101; Jazz 105, Timberwolves 76; Magic 122, Wizards 92; Bobcats 118, warriors 109; Raptors 108, Heat 83; Grizzlies 100, Nets 93; Bucks 118, SuperSonics 106; and Clippers 116, Kings 109 (in double overtime).

    The Rockets have won 20 of their last 21, and own the longest win streak in the NBA this season. This was Houston's seventh straight win by at least 10 points, extending a franchise record.

    Houston's last 15-game wining streak was in the Rockets championship season of 1993-94.

    "It's great to have your name down in history," Rafer Alston, who had 21 points, said. "We are having some great regular-season success right now, but we know the big picture is getting it done in the postseason. You enjoy it for the moment, but you have to continue to prepare for every game."

    In New York, James shot 16-of-30 from the field, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range, in his second 50-point game this season.

    The NBA's scoring leader scored 45 points in a victory over the Knicks in Cleveland on November 2. He fell two points shy of Kobe Bryant, who had a 52-point game on Sunday against Dallas, the highest in the league this season.

    Jamal Crawford scored 25 points, Nate Robinson added 24 and Eddy Curry had 20 for the Knicks, who dropped their fourth in a row.

    In Boston, the Celtics won their sixth consecutive game and took a four-game lead over Detroit in the Eastern Conference.

    Kendrick Perkins had a career-high 20 rebounds to go with his 10 points for the Celtics.

    Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups each had 23 points for Detroit.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily)

Yao Ming reacts after his left foot was injured during a game. Six-time All-Star center is out for the season and post-season with a stress fracture in his sore left foot, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey announced Tuesday. (Photo: sina.com.cn) Photo Gallery>>>

Traditional cure to help Yao Ming's foot recovery

    BEIJING, March 6 -- Chinese officials are hoping to speed NBA star Yao Ming's recovery with traditional Chinese medicine.

    The Houston Rockets center underwent surgery on Monday to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. Doctors in the United States said that he was expected to recover in time to play for China at the Beijing Olympics in August. Full Story

Yao Ming-less Rockets rip Wizards 94-69

    BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Yao Ming couldn't step on the court because of a foot stress fracture, so his teammates stepped up Tuesday night and notched a 94-69 win over the Washington Wizards for their 13th consecutive victory.

    The Rockets didn't appear to miss their All-Star center, jumping to a 7-0 lead and never trailing as they coasted to their 17th win in the last 18 games. The streak is their longest since their championship season of 1993-94, and the longest active streak in the NBA. Full Story

Yao Ming, McGrady help Rockets earn 11th straight win

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese center Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady showed their brilliant form in the NBA clash with current leaders Hornets in New Orleans on Friday, gifting the Houston Rockets its 11th straight win in the Western Conference.

    In the 100-80 victory, McGrady scored 34 points and Yao Ming added 28 for Houston.  Full story

Yao fires Rockets to 7th win in a row

    BEIJING, Feb. 13 -- The Houston Rockets cruised to a 95-83 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, Chinese center Yao Ming leading the home team to a seventh consecutive triumph with a game-high 25 points.

    Rafer Alston added 17 points and seven assists for the Rockets, who won for the 11th time in 12 games despite getting off to a sluggish start.