WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defending Yao Ming is difficult enough withoug

having to rely on third- and fourth-string centers against him.

Yao took advantage of Washington's injuries in the middle to

score 23 of his season-high 38 points in the fourth quarter and the

Houston Rockets ended the Wizards' three-game winning streak with a

114-109 victory Saturday night.

"The sting of injuries many times can't be overcome. ... You feel

for any coach and any team that goes through injuries like that.

We've gone through the same thing here," Rockets coach Jeff Van

Gundy said. "You take wins any way you can get them."

Yao was limited to 15 points through three quarters, but the

Wizards finished the game without backup center Brendan Haywood,

who left in the second quarter with a left thigh bruise, and

starter Etan Thomas, who exited early in the fourth with a left

ankle sprain. Both are day-to-day.

"[Yao's] got an arsenal that I haven't seen before," Wizards

coach Eddie Johnson said. "He is equally dominating on either

box."

And with the Wizards down to James Lang and Calvin Booth to

guard Yao, stopping him was nearby impossible.

"Thomas and Haywood, they are great players," Yao said. "They

always push me out of my position. They have a lot of defensive

experience. They know how to guard a big man, post me up. When

they're out, obviously, it's good for us, good for me."

Elias Says
Arenas Gilbert Arenas scored 41 points in Washington's 114-109 loss to Houston. Arenas has scored at least 40 points four times in 20 games this season. Over the last 20 years, only three other NBA players had four games of 40 or more points in their first 20 games of a season: Michael Jordan (six times), Kobe Bryant (2002-03) and Allen Iverson (2005-06). • For more Elias Says, Click here.

Yao grabbed 11 rebounds and had six of the Rockets' season-high

10 blocks. Houston outscored the Wizards in the paint, 42-22, and

Washington's centers scored only seven points.

"That's the worst time you want to lose your centers -- against

him," the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas added. "It is hard."

Tracy McGrady had 28 points for Houston before leaving the game

in the fourth quarter with back spasms. Rafer Alston added 12

points for the Rockets in their fourth straight victory over

Washington.

McGrady said he expected to play Tuesday at home against the Los

Angeles Lakers.

Arenas shook off a ragged start to finish with 41 points for the

Wizards, who were bidding for their first four-game streak since

winning five straight from Feb. 4-12, 2006. Antawn Jamison added 27

points and 11 rebounds, and Caron Butler 17 points and 10 rebounds

for Washington.

Yao scored Houston's first 12 points of the fourth quarter. His

two free throws gave the Rockets a 92-91 lead after three foul

shots by Jamison, who was fouled by Juwan Howard on a 3-point

attempt. Yao finished 12-for-14 from the foul line.

Booth's 3-pointer with 30.7 seconds left got the Wizards within

110-109, but Yao responded with a fadeaway jumper over Booth for a

three-point cushion.

Alston scored eight points in a 10-2 run early in the third

period that erased Washington's 57-53 lead. Alston started and

ended the burst with 3-pointers; in between Yao hit a short jumper

and Alston wasn't challenged on a driving layup from the right

side.

McGrady took over from there, scoring 12 points in the final

7:13 of the third. Two free throws by Luther Head, who scored 12

points off the bench, gave the Rockets an 80-74 lead with 1:03 left

in the quarter.

Arenas, who scored 98 points during the three-game winning

streak, missed his first 10 shots of the game -- six from the floor

and four from the free-throw line -- before converting a jumper on

his first field-goal attempt of the second quarter for a 25-20

Washington lead.

He then hit six straight field goals, scoring 13 points in a

2:23 span and 15 consecutive points for the Wizards, who led 52-51

at halftime despite 16 points from McGrady. In between his dry

spell and his strong streak, Arenas briefly left the court and

ditched his white shoes for black sneakers.Game notes
Washington was whistled for three shot-clock violations in

the first half. ... Houston F Chuck Hayes fouled out with 4:48 left

in the third period after playing 16 minutes. ... The start of the

fourth quarter was delayed nine minutes when lights in the Verizon

Center rafters dimmmed but did not return to full strength. The

game was restarted and the lights reached full power after 3½

minutes.