McGrady and Yao power Rockets

MIAMI — Tracy McGrady scored 19 points and Yao Ming added 14 points and 13 rebounds to help the Houston Rockets beat the Miami Heat 96-71 Wednesday night in an exhibition game.

Rafer Alston scored 13 points, Kirk Snyder added 11 and Shane Battier had 10 for Houston, which had all five starters reach double figures and won its fifth straight preseason contest. The Rockets finish their exhibition season Thursday in Orlando.

Dwyane Wade had 26 points in 32 minutes for the Heat, who finished the preseason 2-5.

No other Heat player reached double figures — while Houston, which also got 17 points and four 3-pointers from reserve Steve Novak, had six. All but two of Novak's points came in the final quarter.

Shaquille O'Neal managed nine points on 3-of-8 shooting — both from the floor and the foul line — in 22 minutes for Miami, which raises its NBA championship banner when the regular season opens Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls.

And the Heat clearly are ready for the preseason to end.

Alonzo Mourning was ejected with 2:07 left in the third quarter after picking up his second technical foul, and Gary Payton and Antoine Walker argued during a time-out in the second quarter, then continued their heated conversation on the bench — as some teammates seated around them barely contained laughter.

Wade hit his first five shots, all of them jumpers, including a pair of 3-pointers.

After McGrady elevated and hit a 3-pointer over him early in the opening quarter, Wade answered with one from long range over Snyder's outstretched arm.

Moments later, Snyder had something to really be embarrassed about.

He stumbled while chasing Wade near the top of the key, and was on the ground when the Heat guard got the ball and squared to shoot. But first, Wade took a glance down at Snyder, then fired and swished a 20-footer.

The game stayed relatively close until the third quarter, when Houston took control with a 16-2 run and built a 63-45 lead.

MAVERICKS 83, CAVALIERS 81: At Pittsburgh, DeSagana Diop and Austin Croshere each made a free throw in the final 68 seconds and the Dallas Mavericks held off the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dirk Nowitzki scored 17 points, Devin Harris added 14 and Jerry Stackhouse had 12 for the Mavericks.