Hot-shooting Rockets manhandle Clippers

Tracy McGrady rebounded from one of the worst games of his career with 28 points, Yao Ming had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets routed the Los Angeles Clippers 128-97 Tuesday night.

Houston shot a season-high 58 percent from the field, only the third time all season that the Rockets have shot at least 50 percent. All three games have resulted in road wins.

Rafer Alston had 17 points and 13 assists for the Rockets, who have won seven of their last eight games following a 5-16 slide. It was their fifth straight road victory over the Clippers and 10th in their last 11 meetings overall.

Sam Cassell scored 25 points for Los Angeles before he was ejected for arguing a foul against him late in the third quarter, and Cuttino Mobley had 23 points. Elton Brand, who will be in Houston on Sunday for his second All-Star game, scored 21 points before sitting out the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles played two men short, having traded backup center Chris Wilcox to Seattle for forward Vladimir Radmanovic a few hours before game time. Quinton Ross, who sat out the second half of Sunday’s win over Chicago, also wasn’t available after a precautionary MRI on Monday revealed inflammation around a disc in his back.

Pistons 85, Nets 71: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Chauncey Billups had 19 points and 10 assists to help Detroit beat New Jersey in its last game before the All-Star break.

Heat 107, Magic 93: At Miami, Dwyane Wade scored 38 points and the Heat shot 58 percent in a win over Orlando, which lost its fifth straight game.

Kings 105, Bulls 101 OT: At Chicago, Mike Bibby scored 31 points and Ron Artest added 27 and 14 rebounds to lead Sacramento to an overtime victory over Chicago.

Cavs’ Hughes sidelined again

Cleveland guard Larry Hughes is likely to miss the rest of the regular season after having surgery for the second time in six weeks on his broken right middle finger.

Hughes, the team’s second-leading scorer, was supposed to miss six to eight weeks after having surgery Jan. 6. However, doctors concluded last week that the finger hadn’t healed as quickly as the team had hoped. The team said he will now miss an additional eight to 10 weeks.

Maggette cleared for rehab

Clippers forward Corey Maggette, sidelined almost 2 1/2 months because of an injured ligament in his left foot, was cleared to begin an on-court rehabilitation program as well as stationary shooting.

The Clippers said an examination by team physician Dr. Tony Daly and an X-ray showed healing in the separated ligament in Maggette’s foot. A timetable for his return hasn’t been determined,