HOUSTON, March 20 (UPI) -- Center Yao Ming had a game-high 32 points Tuesday as the Houston Rockets beat the Indiana Pacers, 86-76.
Tracey McGrady had 20 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds just missing a triple-double and Yao Ming had 14 boards. Shane Battier had eight points, including two key three-pointers.
Houston led 18-16 after the first quarter and 39-37 at the half and did not pull away until a 10-7 run in the final quarter, as the Rockets won their fourth straight game.
Jermaine O'Neal led the Pacers with 25 points and Jamal Tinsley had 22 as Indiana lost for the 12th time in their last 13 games, falling into a three-way tie with New Jersey and Orlando for the final two playoff spots in the NBA Eastern Conference.
Houston (43-25) trails San Antonio by four games for second-place in the Southwest Division.
