Artest steps up -- bad ankle and all

Ron Artest scored 10 of his 28 points in the second overtime and the Houston Rockets recovered from blowing a 16-point lead in the second half to beat the Utah Jazz, 120-115, on Saturday night.

Yao Ming had 26 points and 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who led, 59-43, early in the third quarter, then were three for 18 from the field in the fourth to help the Jazz get back in the game.

Artest was eight for eight from the free-throw line in the second overtime to help the Rockets beat Utah in their first meeting since the Jazz eliminated Houston in the first round of last season’s playoffs.

“I should have been attacking all night instead of waiting for double overtime,” Artest said. “Better late than never.”

Ronnie Brewer scored 23 points and Deron Williams had 14 points and 11 assists for the Jazz, which played without its top three scorers and rebounders -- Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap -- for the second consecutive game.

Utah finished with a season-high 35 assists and nearly pulled off the rally because of its defense in the fourth quarter.

“We came back in the second half but couldn’t finish the game,” said Andrei Kirilenko, who scored 20 points. “Our defense was good and forced Houston to shoot more jump shots in the second half.”

Artest has been playing through a sprained right ankle and has been listed as “day to day” for weeks. The ankle was throbbing Saturday, he said, and Artest even told his wife that he was sitting out the game.

But the Rockets were without Tracy McGrady, sidelined again because of a sore left knee, and Artest decided to play.

“I thought it would be smart if I took this game off, but Mac didn’t play,” Artest said. “You think about the team, you think about winning and how you can help. That’s what leads to, ‘I’m playing.’ ”

Good thing for Houston he did.

The score was tied, 96-96, at the end of the regulation and 101-101 after the first overtime.