Houston, TX (My Sportsbook) - Yao Ming returned to the lineup with 22 points and seven rebounds, as the Rockets temporarily moved into third place in the Western Conference with an 86-66 blowout of the New Orleans Hornets.

Von Wafer scored 13 and Luis Scola had 15 rebounds for Houston, which won its fifth straight game and will close its regular season at Dallas on Wednesday.

Shane Battier and Carl Landry each had 10 points for the Rockets, who are a half-game ahead of both San Antonio and Portland and are now atop the Southwest Division. The Spurs and Trail Blazers are both in action Monday, with San Antonio playing at Golden State and Portland hosting Oklahoma City.

The Rockets scored 18 consecutive points in the second quarter to take control.

Yao, who missed the previous game with a sore right foot, finished 8-of-13 from the field and also had a pair of blocked shots.

David West tallied 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets, who were held to a season-low in points and fell into a tie with Dallas for the sixth spot in the West with one game remaining. The Hornets finish the season at San Antonio on Wednesday.

It was an off night for guard Chris Paul, as he had nine points and seven assists.

After taking a 22-19 lead into the frame, James Posey's bucket extended New Orleans' margin to 31-25 three minutes into the second.

But the game turned when Houston notched the ensuing 18 points. Landry started the burst with a bucket, while Wafer and Battier each hit three-pointers during the surge. A jumper from Ron Artest capped the flurry with under three minutes left in the half, and the Rockets went to the locker room ahead, 47-35.

Houston continued to pull away early in the third with Yao's hook shot moving the cushion to 53-35. It was 67-46 moving to the fourth, and the only question that remained was if the Hornets would push their total above 65, which was a franchise-low, set two times. A dunk by Antonio Daniels in the final minute averted history from being made.

Game Notes

The Rockets held an opponent to a season-low. The previous mark was 71 by Memphis on October 29, a season-opening 11-point victory...Posey had 12 points and Sean Marks 10 in defeat...New Orleans shot 34.6 percent from the field...Houston won the season series, 3-1.