Alston and Luis Scola had 12 points apiece for the Rockets, who’ve won 23 of their last 24 games and 28 of their last 31. Houston also improved to 7-0 since Yao Ming’s season-ending foot injury.

But Shane Battier said the Rockets have stayed aware that they’re one losing streak away from plunging out of postseason contention in the tightly packed West.

“At this point, we’re fighting for the playoffs,” he said. “That’s all we care about right now.”

This one got them a step closer.

New Jersey missed 11 of its first 13 shots and the Rockets built an early seven-point lead. Smothered by Jefferson early, McGrady missed his first three shots.

Sharpshooting Steve Novak came off the bench and hit a 3-pointer and McGrady sank two free throws to give Houston a 22-15 lead after one quarter. Novak finished with 11.

McGrady continued to struggle early in the second quarter. He couldn’t handle an alley-oop pass from Bobby Jackson, then bounced a dribble off his foot after a steal, ruining a chance for a breakaway dunk.

After McGrady went to the bench three minutes into the second quarter, Novak swished another 3-pointer and Jackson hit a tough fadeaway to start a 19-5 run that Houston made without its seven-time All-Star.

McGrady hit a jumper and Battier swished another 3-pointer in the first minute of the third quarter as the lead swelled over 20.

The Nets shot better in the third quarter and made a mild rally, cutting the deficit to 14. McGrady hit a running jumper and his only 3-pointer in the final two minutes of the third quarter before calling it a night.

Notes: The Rockets failed to reach 100 points for just the second time in 10 games. ... New Jersey’s 28 first-half points and 47 points after three quarters were season lows. The Nets’ 28 first-half points were also a season low for a Rockets opponent. ... Rockets rookie F Carl Landry sat out for the second straight game with a bruised right knee.

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