Rockets beat Lakers without Yao, even series

HOUSTON Houston didn't seem to miss Yao Ming, who is sidelined for the remainder of the playoffs with a hairline fracture in his left foot.

Luis Scola had 11 points and 14 rebounds as the Rockets got exactly the team effort they needed after Yao broke his left foot in the Lakers' win in Game 3.

Game 5 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles, and anyone who thought the Rockets were finished without their best player only needed to watch the first few minutes