Early offensive struggles were a concern for Houston (13-7) as the team got off to a mediocre 7-5 start. However, after scoring 100 points or more only twice in that stretch, the Rockets have reached the century mark six times in their last eight games, winning all six.

Houston was particularly effective against offensive-minded Golden State on Friday night, when the Rockets recorded season highs with 13 3-pointers and 36 free throws in a 131-112 home victory. It was their highest point total since a 133-93 road win over Sacramento on Dec. 12, 1995.

Yao took advantage of the Warriors' small frontcourt, recording season highs with 33 points and five assists and adding 14 rebounds. He was 8-for-12 from the field and 17-for-19 from the free-throw line.

Yao has taken only 20 field goal attempts in Houston's back-to-back victories, but has gone 29-for-32 from the line in those contests. He's averaging 8.0 free throw attempts in wins, compared to 5.0 in losses.

"I'm just attacking the rim," said Yao, shooting a career-high 88.1 percent at the stripe this season. "If I catch it in the paint and turn around and draw contact, seven or eight times out of 10, the referee will give you the call. ... When you keep getting to the free-throw line, it makes the game a lot easier."

Yao's dominance inside helped open up the perimeter for the Rockets, who were 13-for-21 from 3-point range Friday. Ron Artest made four shots from behind the arc en route to 28 points, one shy of his season high.

"The great thing about tonight was we had tremendous balance," forward Shane Battier told the Rockets' official Web site. "We can't do it by ourselves, but when we have tremendous balance, we become a much better, much more efficient offensive team."

The Rockets had that balance on display Oct. 29, when Yao led four Houston players scoring in double figures with 21 points in an 82-71 season-opening win over Memphis. That was the Rockets' eighth win in nine games against the Grizzlies since the beginning of the 2006-07 season.

Memphis (5-15) could have a hard time snapping out of that slump if its recent defensive woes continue Monday. The Grizzlies have allowed five of their last six opponents to shoot better than 50.0 percent from the field, and were outscored 37-16 in the first quarter of a 106-87 loss to New Orleans on Saturday night.

"We can't afford where we are right now to not be totally into it," said Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni, whose club has lost 12 of 14 after a 3-3 start. "If we are not, we will be down 37-16 in the first quarter."

Iavaroni is rumored to be on the hot seat because of Memphis' slow start in his second season on the bench.

"We needed energy on the floor, we needed toughness," he said Saturday. "We were not in the tough category. We were nowhere near it."