Los Angeles  - The Houston Rockets didn't need Tracy McGrady to handle the San Antonio Spurs. They really didn't need Yao Ming, either.

With McGrady sidelined by an injury and Yao managing just 12 points, the host Rockets used a balanced attack Saturday night to defeat the Spurs, 103-84, and maintain first place in the Southwest Division.

Luther Head scored a season-high 21 points and Ron Artest added 16 for the Rockets, who had seven players in double figures and eclipsed 100 points vs. the Spurs for the first time in 29 meetings since March 2001.

"I just gotta be ready and stay ready for when my team needs me," said Head, was told he was starting for McGrady just minutes before tip-off. "Everybody played together and everybody was involved."

Head had not been part of Houston's rotation and had scored just 19 points this season. But he was sharp from the outset, making 7-of-11 shots and 5-of-5 free throws, adding five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

"It just shows you how a guy has worked and has continued to work," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said.

McGrady missed Wednesday's loss to Indiana with a knee injury and sat out his second straight game. But the Rockets (11-6) got a huge lift from Shane Battier, who made his season debut Wednesday and contributed 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting vs. the Spurs.

"Guys haven't been playing like the other guys, they're ready to go, we needed them tonight," Adelman said. "It was the whole game."

The Spurs came in with a four-game winning streak, but the Rockets never trailed, opening a 33-20 lead after one period and widening it to 50-31 on consecutive baskets by Head midway through the second period.

San Antonio (9-7) rallied, cutting the deficit to 60-58 on Roger Mason's layup early in the third quarter. Head responded with a layup and 3-pointer, and Houston rebuilt the margin to 84-70 entering the final period.

Head opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer and driving layup to give the Rockets an 89-72 advantage, and the Spurs got no closer than 16 points thereafter.

"My teammates found me all the time," Head said. "I was making shots, penetrating to the basket and getting it in transition."

Rafer Alston scored 12 points and Argentina's Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks added 11 apiece for the Rockets, who shot 48 percent (39-of-81) and committed just seven turnovers. Yao sat out the entire fourth quarter.

"When Yao's out, we can have a very quick group out there," Adelman said.

The Spurs shot just 38 percent (29-of-72) as they had stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker of France and Manu Ginobili of Argentina in the lineup for just the second time this season. Duncan scored 17 points, Parker 15 and Ginobili 11.

"I played an awful game in the first half," said Duncan, who made 6-of-18 shots. "I couldn't hit any of my shots."

New York 138, Golden State 125

Chris Duhon had a franchise-record 22 assists, David Lee had career highs of 37 points and 22 rebounds and Al Harrington scored a season-high 36 points and as the host Knicks ran away from the Warriors with an 82-point first half.

It was the first meeting between the teams since last week's trade in which the Knicks acquired Harrington for Jamal Crawford, who had 21 points and 10 rebounds against his former team but could not prevent the Warriors from completing an 0-5 road trip.

Boston 89, Charlotte 84=

The visiting Celtics won their eighth straight game as Paul Pierce scored eight of his 19 points in the final four minutes to break up a close contest. Gerald Wallace scored
23 points for the Bobcats.

Cleveland 97, Milwaukee 85=

LeBron James scored 32 points and Lithuania's Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 23 and 17 rebounds as the visiting Cavaliers won their fifth straight game. The Bucks have lost four in a row.

Dallas 101, Sacramento 78=

Jason Terry scored 24 points and German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki added 19 as visiting Dallas won for the sixth time in seven games. The Kings have lost six straight.

Oklahoma City 111, Memphis 103=

The Thunder ended a 14-game losing streak and gave Scott Brooks his first win in five games as coach as Kevin Durant scored 30 points. Rookie O. J. Mayo scored 30 points for the host Grizzlies, who blew a 14-point lead and have lost 11 of 12.

Orlando 110, Indiana 96=

Dwight Howard had 32 points, 21 rebounds and four blocks as the host Magic manhandled the Pacers for their fourth straight win. Danny Granger scored 27 points for Indiana, which has lost five of six.

Denver 106, Minnesota 97=

Chauncey Billups scored 27 points and Carmelo Anthony added 25 to give the Nuggets their seventh win in nine games. Rookie Kevin Love had 18 points and 12 boards for the Timberwolves, who have not won at home since opening night.

New Jersey 105, Utah 88=

Devin Harris scored 34 points for the Nets, who improved to 2-1 on a four-game road trip. Russian Andrei Kirilenko left with an ankle injury in the second quarter for the Jazz.

LA Clippers 97, Miami 96=

Zach Randolph and Al Thornton scored 27 points each for the Clippers, who ended a four-game slide. The Heat's Dwyane Wade had 26 points and 11 assists but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Atlanta 102, Washington 98=

Al Horford and Maurice Evans each scored 19 points and combined to score Atlanta's last 16 points, keying a road win. Antawn Jamison scored 26 points for the Wizards. (dpa)