BEIJING, Jan 31 -- The Houston Rockets have relied mostly on their strong defense since Yao Ming broke his right leg last month.

They added some sharp passing Monday night and routed the Philadelphia 76ers in Houston.

Tracy McGrady scored 25 points before sitting out the fourth quarter and Rafer Alston had nine of Houston’s season-high 31 assists in the Rockets’ 105-84 victory.

“We were moving the ball and getting everybody involved,” said McGrady, who also had five assists. “When you get out to a great lead like that, it’s fun to just sit back and watch.”

Juwan Howard added 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as the Rockets held an opponent to 85 points or fewer for the third straight game. Houston, which leads the league in scoring defense, beat Portland 99-69 on Friday night.

The Rockets are 12-6 since Yao’s injury. Yao is expected to return in late February.

“We’re working on being a great team,” Alston said. “When Yao Ming gets back, that could tell it all, how good we are and are we going to go from good to great.”

Houston smothered the 76ers after Philadelphia hit 10 of 20 shots in the first quarter.

Samuel Dalembert had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Andre Iguodala scored 19 points for Philadelphia, which had won three of its previous four games.

The Sixers trailed by 24 at halftime and by 38 after three quarters before Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy mercifully pulled his starters.

“We didn’t move the ball and they got easy shots all night,” Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks said. “They played very good defense and our defense wasn’t where we wanted it.

“Everything we did didn’t work and everything they did worked.”

The Rockets had 11 assists in the first quarter — one more than they had in an entire game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 23, the day Yao cracked his right tibia.

“Passing is contagious,” Howard said. “It was contagious tonight. Everyone started sharing the basketball.”

With McGrady on the bench, Houston started the second quarter with a decisive 14-2 spurt. Bonzi Wells drove for a dunk and Luther Head sank two 3-pointers to help the Rockets open a 43-23 lead. Head had three 3s in the game and finished with 11 points.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)

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