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Rockets hope for health vs. Wizards

Nov 21, 2008 - 11:26 AM Houston (7-5) at Washington (1-8) 7:00 p.m. EST

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest are each battling injuries, with vary degrees of severity.

When the Houston Rockets face the Washington Wizards on Friday, however, all three players should be on the court.

Ming suffered a left foot injury in Monday's 100-89 win at Oklahoma City and sat out a 96-86 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The 7-6 center, who missed the last 26 games of the regular season in 2007-08 due to a stress fracture in the same foot, took treatment the past few days and expects to play against the Wizards.

McGrady and Artest, each of whom suffered ankle injuries against the Thunder, played against Dallas, though McGrady was not 100 percent.

"Right now, we stick with the limit," McGrady said of playing 29 minutes. "I don't know what that limit is, but however many minutes I played tonight is what it's going to be.

"I feel a little out of synch on offense, and it was really tough to get into the rhythm."

McGrady and Yao have each had their seasons cut by injuries over the past three seasons, with McGrady averaging just over 61 games played and Yao suiting up for 51 games per campaign.

Artest shook off his ankle sprain with 14 points and 13 rebounds McGrady added 16 points on 5-of-14 shooting.

The Wizards have dropped three straight and are one of only two teams -- the other is Oklahoma City -- to not have a crooked number in the win column.

Washington is averaging under 84 points per game over its last three contests.