• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Yao probable to return as Rockets go for second straight win

Jan 26, 2009 - 3:20 PM Houston (28-17) at New York (18-25), 7:00 p.m. EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The Houston Rockets have rarely been at full strength this season - but it has yet to catch up with them.

Houston looks to continue its recent domination of the New York Knicks when it visits Madison Square Garden on Monday.

Yao Ming was sidelined with a sore right knee but Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest both returned from their respective injuries to help Houston post a 108-105 victory at Detroit on Sunday.

Artest scored 24 points and Luis Scola had 21 in the win. McGrady, who missed the previous five games while resting his sore left knee, had 15 for Houston, which has won seven of its last nine.

The Rockets should have a healthy lineup against the Knicks, according to the Houston Chronicle, which reported Yao will be in the lineup.

New York had its three-game winning streak snapped with a 116-110 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday. Nate Robinson scored 26 points and Tim Thomas had 24 off the bench in the setback

Houston won the first meeting this season, 96-76, on January 10 and has won the last eight overall since a 93-92 New York victory on November 18, 2004.