Yao injures right knee during loss

Tim Thomas scored 21 points and the Los Angeles Clippers snapped a six-game losing streak Saturday night in Houston with a 98-93 victory over the Houston Rockets, who lost Yao Ming to a knee injury.

Yao fractured a bone under his right knee and will miss at least six weeks.

Chris Kaman had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Cuttino Mobley scored 18 and Elton Brand had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Clippers, who finally took control in the fourth quarter after Yao went down 6 minutes into the game.

The Rockets led 14-12 when Yao went down clutching his right knee and screaming in pain. Yao was leaping for a blocked shot as Chuck Hayes and Thomas hit the floor beneath him. Yao’s knee appeared to get caught under Thomas’ body and Yao immediately grabbed his knee.

Trainer Keith Jones and Bonzi Wells helped Yao limp off the floor and Yao was taken to a hospital for an MRI test.

Cavaliers 86, Magic 83: At Cleveland, LeBron James scored 19 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 32, pushing him to more than 7,000 in his NBA career and carrying Cleveland to a win over Orlando.

James made seven of his first eight shots in the final 12 minutes to help the Cavaliers snap a three-game losing streak and get revenge on the Magic, who beat Cleveland last week in Florida.

Orlando took a 73-72 lead with 4:32 left on a basket by Trevor Ariza when James, who showed signs of frustration earlier, took over.

James single-handedly outscored the Magic 19-18 in the fourth.

Timberwolves 78, Pacers 71: At Indianapolis, Kevin Garnett had 29 points and a season-high 19 rebounds, and Minnesota beat Indiana to snap a four-game losing streak.

Jamaal Tinsley scored 22 points and Jermaine O’Neal added 11 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks for the Pacers.

Heat 105, Warriors 92: At Miami, Jason Kapono came off the bench to score a career-high 27 points, Dwyane Wade added 18 points and eight assists and Miami beat Golden State.

Alonzo Mourning had 14 points and Udonis Haslem added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the defending NBA champion Heat, who got back to .500 at home and tuned up for their Christmas Day showdown against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers by holding the Warriors to 37 percent shooting.

76ers 98, Knicks 77: At Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored 20 points and Andre Miller added nine points and 11 assists in his Philadelphia debut, leading the 76ers to a victory over New York.

Chris Webber had 18 points, Kyle Korver contributed 16, and Samuel Dalembert had 11 for the Sixers, who open a seven-game road trip Tuesday at Golden State.

Miller, fourth in the league with 9.1 assists per game, and Joe Smith each played their first game for the Sixers since being acquired for Allen Iverson.

Bucks 115, Nets 104: At Milwaukee, Mo Williams scored 32 points and Milwaukee beat New Jersey for its season-high fourth straight victory.

The Bucks shot 55 percent from the floor (43 of 78) and got 21 points from Michael Redd. Milwaukee has won its last six home games.

Eddie House scored 22 points for the Nets, whose only lead was 2-0. Jason Kidd added 21 points and 11 assists, but New Jersey’s five-game winning streak against Milwaukee was snapped.

Pistons 108, Hawks 81: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Nazr Mohammed had 19 points and 10 rebounds to help Detroit beat undermanned Atlanta.

Atlanta’s Joe Johnson, who came into the game averaging 28.4 points, had a season-low 12 on 6-for-16 shooting.

Marvin Williams led the Hawks with 19.

Spurs 112, Hornets 77: At Oklahoma City, Tony Parker scored 19 points and San Antonio rebounded from its worst loss of the season with a romp over New Orleans.

The Spurs eclipsed the 100-point mark for the 17th time this season, thanks to 12-of-16 shooting from 3-point-range – 75 percent, another season high. San Antonio entered the game leading the league in 3-point shooting at 41.3 percent.

Jazz 100, Grizzlies 97: At Memphis, Tenn., Mehmet Okur scored 20 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 36 seconds left, and Utah beat Memphis.

It was the only 3-pointer of the game for Okur, who entered shooting 63 percent from behind the arc over the last five games.

Carlos Boozer led the Jazz with 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Bulls 115, Bobcats 76: At Chicago, Ben Gordon scored 18 of his 23 points in the second quarter, and Chicago routed Charlotte for its 13th victory in 15 games.

Gordon was 8 of 9 and converted both of his 3-point attempts, nearly matching the Bobcats’ point total during a second quarter in which Chicago outscored Charlotte 31-20. He was 10 of 14 for the game.

Adam Morrison scored six points for Charlotte.