Clippers edge Rockets; Yao suffers knee injury

Basketball Betting Lines

12/24/2006 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Thomas scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the LA Clippers past Houston, 98-93, but the Rockets suffered a potentially season-killing blow early on when Yao Ming left with a knee injury in the first quarter.

Yao collapsed with just over six minutes left in the first quarter after leaping for a blocked shot. Yao's knee was caught under Chuck Hayes and Thomas, and the Rockets center grabbed his right knee in pain. He was helped off of the floor and taken to a local hospital for an MRI test, where it was revealed that Yao had suffered a non-displaced fracture in a bone under his right knee, and will miss at least six weeks, although Houston officials indicated that the injury should not require surgery.

Houston is already without Tracy McGrady, who is battling back spasms.

Thomas was joined by five other Clippers with double figures. Cuttino Mobley scored 18 points for LA, which snapped a six-game losing skid with the win. Elton Brand scored 16 points and grabbed seven boards. Chris Kaman scored 15 points and pulled down 11 boards, and Corey Maggette and Shaun Livingston contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Shane Battier led the Rockets with 28 points, and Luther Head scored 22 points in the loss, their second in three games. Rafer Alston scored 21 points.

A Bonzi Wells layup brought the Rockets to within 76-74 with 8:21 left in the game, but the Clippers answered with a 17-5 run that sealed the win. Thomas drilled a three to kick off the run, which put the Clippers up 93-79 with just under three minutes left in the game.

The Clippers trailed 50-39 after Battier opened the second half with a hook shot, but LA went on a 14-3 run to tie the game. Thomas and Mobley hit back- to-back threes, and a jumper by Mobley tied the game at 53-53 with 6:43 left. The Clippers took a 69-67 lead into the fourth quarter.

LA trailed 23-22 after the first quarter, and 48-39 at halftime.

Game Notes

The Clippers hit 54 percent (7-of-13) from behind the arc...The Rockets will play their first game without Yao on Tuesday, Dec. 26 at Indiana.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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