Rockets Beat Nuggets Despite Losing Yao

Yao Ming left the game early because of a knee injury and Glen Rice soon joined him, but the Houston Rockets were able to overcome the absence of both players to hold off the Denver Nuggets, 87-85, Saturday night at Houston.

In Yao’s absence, James Posey had his best offensive game since being acquired from Denver last month.

Posey scored 18 points -- 11 more than his previous high with Houston -- and made two three-point baskets to stave off a late rally.

Steve Francis scored 25 points for the Rockets, who were also without Maurice Taylor (sore Achilles tendon) for the entire game and Rice (strained left shoulder) for most of the second half.

Yao had six points and six rebounds in 11 minutes. He injured his left knee while fighting for position with Nugget center Nene Hilario with 7:40 left in the first quarter.

Yao, who was called for a foul on the play, stayed in the game for almost seven more minutes before leaving for good.

Rocket spokesman Nelson Luis said Yao’s injury was not serious, and the team did not plan to have the knee X-rayed.

Indiana 116, Golden State 104 -- Each of the Pacers’ previous six games was decided by four points or less and on the game’s final possession.

They seemed headed for a similar finish at Indianapolis after baskets by Antawn Jamison and Jason Richardson brought the Warriors within 108-104 with two minutes left.

But Jermaine O’Neal scored the next two baskets, then Al Harrington and Reggie Miller each made two free throws as the Pacers improved the league’s best home record to 16-1.

Atlanta 87, New Orleans 80 -- Dion Glover made a three-point basket with 41.9 seconds left -- his only basket of the game -- and the Hawks won at Atlanta.

Jason Terry and Shareef Abdur-Rahim each made two free throws in the closing moments for the Hawks, who won their second straight after a six-game losing streak.

The Hornets, without Baron Davis (back spasms) for the sixth straight game and sixth man Courtney Alexander (strained left groin), lost their fourth in a row.

Washington 89, New York 84 -- Charles Oakley and Jerry Stackhouse each made four free throws in the final 34 seconds to clinch the victory at Madison Square Garden.

Stackhouse had 22 points and helped shut down the Knicks defensively in the final minute for the Wizards, who have won seven of eight.

Milwaukee 89, Detroit 87 -- Ray Allen had 28 points and a key last-second steal to help the Bucks win at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The Bucks scored the game’s first eight points and led for the rest of the game, but Allen had to intercept a long inbounds pass to keep the Pistons from attempting a tying or winning shot.