The Rockets return to Toyota Center getting a victory over the Cavaliers.

Cleveland 55-35, the second time the Cavs have been outrebounded by 20 this season. LeBron James had 32 points and seven rebounds for the Cavaliers, who sorely missed Drew Gooden, their second-leading rebounder. Gooden sat out with a groin injury, the first game he's missed this season.

McGrady was hospitalized earlier in the day with an upper respiratory infection and strep throat. He arrived at the arena less than an hour before tipoff and scored eight points on 3-for-11 shooting.

The Rockets compensated by dominating the boards and holding every Cavalier but James to a dismal shooting night. James went 12-for-23 -- the rest of the team went 19-for-55.

The Rockets led by one after a sluggish first half, then outscored Cleveland 32-20 in the third quarter to take control.

Houston sanks its first five shots of the quarter, three of them 3-pointers. McGrady hit a deep jumper and a 3-pointer from the wing on consecutive possessions to put Houston up 53-44.

Later, Battier sank his second 3-pointer and Luis Scola broke free for a dunk to stretch the lead to 65-51. The Cavs missed 11 of their first 16 shots and got outrebounded 14-4 in the first 10 minutes after halftime.

Houston pushed the lead to 16 before James hit a 3-pointer over Battier in the final seconds of the third quarter to make it 72-59.

James had three more baskets early in the fourth quarter during a 12-3 Cavs run that cut the deficit to seven.

James sank two free throws with 3:22 left to pull Cleveland within six, at 83-77, but Yao hit a turnaround jumper 20 seconds later.

McGrady missed a 3-pointer on Houston's next possession, but Bonzi Wells rebounded and dunked to push the lead to 10.

McGrady was struggling to breathe seven minutes into the game and covered his head with a towel on the bench during the first time out.

He returned to the game, but was replaced by Wells with 2:54 left in the first quarter.

James missed four of his first six shots, including a one-handed dunk attempt that Yao partially blocked. He hung in the air to hit a jumper in the final seconds of the quarter to cut Houston's lead to 23-19.

The Rockets could've led by more, but missed 10 of their 11 3-point tries in the half. The Cavs finished the half with a 12-6 run and trailed 40-39 at the break. McGrady missed all five of his shots in the half.

The Cavs had won 11 of their previous 13 games.

Notes:@ Donyell Marshall started for Gooden, his first start since the 2004-05 season. ... Cleveland G Daniel Gibson, a Houston native, left in the fourth quarter with a strained right hamstring. ... The Cavs play no more road games against Western Conference teams this season. ... Rockets G Luther Head sat out for the third straight game with a strained groin.