Robinson keys Knicks comeback over Yao-less Rockets

Nate Robinson scored 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as the New York Knicks rallied for a 104-98 National Basketball Association victory over the depleted Houston Rockets.

Rockets center Yao Ming sat out a second straight game with a right knee injury, suffered in the first quarter of a loss to Indiana on Friday when he bumped knees with Pacers center Jeff Foster.

Yao worked out at Madison Square Garden before Monday's game, but the team decided to hold him out of the game as a precaution.

The Rockets had welcomed back swingman Tracy McGrady and forward Ron Artest from injury in a victory without Yao on Sunday, and McGrady had 20 points and six assists on Monday.

Playing on back-to-back nights for the first time in over a month, McGrady shot just 7-of-20 and missed a pair of 3-pointers down the stretch.

Luis Scola started for Yao and added 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets.

But Houston couldn't hold off a Knicks team energized by Robinson.

Wilson Chandler also scored 18 points off the bench for the Knicks, who won for the first time this season when trailing after three quarters.

Chandler sank a a 3-pointer with 2:24 to play to give New York their first lead of the second half, 97-96, and they kept the lead until the end.

Robinson and Chandler combined to hit three free throws down the stretch to cap a decisive 16-4 scoring run.

Coming off the bench for the first time since November 5, Chandler made 6-of-10 shots, including his go-ahead straightaway three.

The Knicks kept adding to their lead and opened a 101-98 advantage when Chris Duhon drove around McGrady for a layup with 40 seconds to play.