Tracy McGrady scored 24 points and Yao Ming added 23 points with 12 rebounds as the Houston Rockets powered past Toronto Raptors 114-100 Friday, winning their fifth out of six NBA games.

The victory for Rockets witnessed their first road win over Toronto since March 5, 2003.

The Rockets improved to 41-25 and moved within 2 1/2 games of the Utah Jazz for fourth place in the Western Conference.

The Rockets took command early, using an 18-2 run to open a 29-11 lead late in the first quarter.

After the Raptors got within 62-53 at the half, Yao scored six straight points for the Rockets midway through the third quarter and McGrady had Houston's last nine of the period to widen the margin to 87-72.

Alston just missed a triple-double with 23 points, nine assists and eight rebounds and Juwan Howard scored 10 points for the Rockets, who had a 47-33 rebounding edge.

T.J. Ford scored 18 points, Juan Dixon 17 and Chris Bosh 16 with 19 rebounds for the Raptors, who have a six-game lead over the New Jersey Nets and the New York Knicks in the Atlantic Division race.

Editor: Donald