NBA: Houston 107, Minnesota 90

HOUSTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Yao Ming had 30 points and six rebounds Saturday night and the Houston Rockets beat Minnesota 107-90.

Rafer Alston was good on 8-of-10 shots from the field and finished with 22 points and six assists for Houston, while Tracy McGrady scored 15 points and Ron Artest had 14.

Al Jefferson scored 36 points and pulled down 22 rebounds but the Timberwolves were out-rebounded 51-39 on their way to a fifth loss in their last six games.

Minnesota was ahead 69-66 late in the third period when Alston connected twice from beyond the arc and sank a jumper to key a 12-2 Rockets run to close out the quarter. Houston opened the fourth quarter with a 9-1 run to take control of the game.