Houston, TX -- (Sports Network) - Yao Ming scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, leading the Houston Rockets to a 103-96 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center.

Rafer Alston added a season-high 21 points, seven assists and eight rebounds for the Rockets, who have won seven of 10. Ron Artest contributed a 19-point effort, while Carl Landry posted 12 points and eight rebounds in the win.

"We moved the ball well tonight. Rafer played great," Artest said. "Yao played more aggressively and made his free throws. That was what decided it tonight."

Zach Randolph had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who have lost six of seven. Al Thornton added 24 points and nine boards, while Marcus Camby posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Baron Davis scored 13 points and dished out nine assists in the loss.

"The difference in the game was at the free throw line," Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy said. "They made them. We had a hard time getting there. With Yao and the difficulties with defending him, (that) allowed the guards to spread the floor and make the three-pointers that hurt us tonight."

Clinging to a one-point lead after three quarters, Houston began the fourth on a 6-0 run to take a seven-point advantage. Steve Novak made it a four-point game on a jumper for LA with 7 1/2 minutes left, but the Rockets surged to an eight-point advantage behind Artest's layup and two free throws.

Yao's jumper from close range gave Houston a 97-89 lead with 3:06 left, and Landry followed with a couple free throws with 1:27 to go, increasing the lead to 10. The Rockets were able to hold on from there.

Yao scored 10 points in the first quarter, and the Rockets held a 27-19 advantage after the opening period.

Jason Hart's free throw pulled the Clippers to within four at 43-39, but the Rockets extended their lead to seven before halftime, 53-46.

Houston went up by as many as 15 on Yao's jumper with 10 minutes left in the third, but the Clippers climbed back into it. LA started with a 9-0 run after giving up the jumper to make it 61-55.

Davis got the Clips to within one headed into the fourth, hitting a three- pointer with just four seconds left to make it 77-76.

Game Notes:

LA rookie Eric Gordon provided 10 points...Yao was 12-of-13 from the free throw line...Houston leads the season series, 2-0...Seven of the Clippers' next nine games are on the road.