Missing stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets are counting quite a bit on their 3-point shooting early in the season. So far, it's only gotten them off to a 3-1 start. Rookie Chase Budinger scored a career-high 17 points and was one of four Houston players with multiple 3-pointers as the Rockets beat the Utah Jazz 113-96 on Monday night.
No Yao Ming. No Tracy McGrady. No problem for the Houston Rockets. Trevor Ariza, making the move from the Lakers this season, scored a career high 33 points, Aaron Brooks added 28 points and the Rockets held on to beat the Portland Trail Blazers at home for the fifth straight time in regular season, 111-107 Saturday night.
Encouraged by progress in his recovery from major foot surgery, Yao Ming said Wednesday he will return to action — just not next season. "The (X-ray) picture looks good. The bones heal well," he said in an interview with Houston television station KRIV. He also said, however, that there is no chance that he will play in the 2009-10 NBA season.