HOUSTON -- Yao Ming scored eight of his 36 points in the final 2 1/2 minutes and had 19 rebounds to help the Houston Rockets hold on to beat the Golden State Warriors 111-107 on Tuesday night.

Yao Ming scores 36 and grabs 19 rebounds in the Rockets victory.

Rafer Alston had 17 points and a season-high 12 assists as the Rockets overcame the absence of Tracy McGrady to win for the fifth time in six games and snap a four-game losing streak to the Warriors.

Houston led 52-31 late in the second quarter, but the Warriors spent the second half gradually chipping away. They took their first lead, at 102-101, on Baron Davis' 3-pointer with 2:11 left in the game.

Yao overpowered Golden State's undersized frontcourt all night and muscled his way down low on every Rockets' possession down the stretch. He went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and flipped in a hook shot after that as Houston pulled away late.

Davis sank another 3-pointer with 15.5 seconds left for the final margin. He finished with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists.

McGrady sat out with flu-like symptoms, the 15th game he's missed this season. The Rockets improved to 8-7 without him.

Luther Head scored 20 and added six assists for the Rockets. Stephen Jackson had 25 points, seven assists and six rebounds for Golden State.