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Yao cleared to return as Rockets visit James, Cavaliers

Mar 5, 2007 - 3:52 PM Houston (36-23) at Cleveland (34-25) 7:00 pm EST

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The return of Yao Ming can only spell good news for the sliding Houston Rockets.

Yao is expected to be back in the lineup for the first time since late December when the Rockets visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

A five-time All-Star center, the 7-5 Yao has been sidelined since late December with a fracture below his right knee. But after 11 weeks of recovery, Yao returned to practice last weekend and was given medical clearance to return to action.

Yao originally suffered the injury against the Los Angeles Clippers on December 23. He was putting together his best season before getting hurt, averaging a career-high 26.8 points and 9.7 rebounds in 26 games.

Houston played well without Yao in the lineup, going 20-12 in his absence. The Rockets are fifth overall in the Western Conference.

But Houston has dropped three of its last four games to fall five games behind San Antonio for second place in the Southwest division.

The Rockets dropped a 95-74 decision to the Spurs on Saturday. Tracy McGrady scored 21 points for Houston, which shot just 39 percent (25-of-65) from the floor.

Monday figures to be a showdown between McGrady and fellow All-Star swingman LeBron James, who has scored at least 35 points in Cleveland's past three games.

James scored 36 and dished out six assists Saturday as the Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors, 120-97.

In the first meeting between the teams this season, Houston cruised to an 81-63 victory on December 2. Yao scored 24 points for the Rockets, who are 16-5 against teams from the Eastern Conference this season.