HOUSTON, April 13 (UPI) -- Yao Ming paced Houston to its fourth straight victory Wednesday night as the Rockets kept Memphis from claiming a playoff berth with a 100-92 victory.
Yao scored 28 points, helping Houston edge within a half game of Sacramento for the fifth spot in the Western Conference.
Tracy McGrady added 23 points and Mike James 15 for the Rockets.
A victory by Memphis or a loss by Minnesota would have given the Western Conference's last playoff berth to the Grizzlies.
But Minnesota downed Golden State while Memphis lost its second straight.
Pau Gasol had 20 points for Memphis, which rallied to within a point with less than three minutes to play.
The Grizzlies were still within three when James made a three-pointer with less than a minute to go.
