Oklahoma City, OK (Best E Casino) - Luis Scola led the way for Houston with 23 points and nine rebounds as the Rockets defeated the Thunder, 100-89, at the Ford Center.

Yao Ming added 19 points and 12 boards for the Rockets, who have won two straight and three of their last four. Ron Artest chipped in 17 points and 11 rebounds before leaving in the final minute after twisting his right ankle. Tracy McGrady had eight points and was also forced from the game with a left knee injury early in the second half.

Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 29 points, grabbed seven boards and doled out four helpers for the Thunder, who have dropped eight straight games since their lone win of the season. Jeff Green added 16 points and Russell Westbrook 14 off the bench.

The Rockets jumped out to a 32-30 lead after the first quarter, and found themselves with a 56-50 cushion at the break.

Houston outscored Oklahoma City 25-19 in the third stanza to take an 81-69 lead into the final 12 minutes.

Three free throws from Damien Wilkins and a layup from Westbrook, coupled against just a free throw from Yao, pulled the home team within 82-74 just over a minute into the fourth.

The Rockets, though, followed with an 8-2 run, highlighted by four points from Yao, to open a 90-76 lead close to midway through the frame.

Houston's lead hovered around the low-teens the rest of the way with the Thunder unable to realistically challenge for the win.

Game Notes

Oklahoma City is 1-5 at home this year...Thunder forwards Desmond Mason (elbow) and Chris Wilcox (knee) did not play. It was reported in an Oklahoma City newspaper that Mason could miss up to two weeks with the sprained elbow...The Rockets improved to 4-3 on the road...The Rockets handed the Thunder an 89-77 setback on November 1 this season at the Toyota Center and have won nine straight, 15 of 16 and 21 of the last 30 matchups with the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise...Houston is unbeaten in its last four as the visitor in this series.