HOUSTON(AP) Ron Artest had 18 points and five rebounds and Luis Scola added 13 points as the Houston Rockets beat the short-handed San Antonio Spurs 85-78 on Thursday night.

Yao Ming scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds in two quarters for the Rockets, while Tracy McGrady was in uniform, but did not play because of a sore left knee.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich used mostly reserves in the Spurs' preseason opener. Tim Duncan, Bruce Bowen and Michael Finley all watched in street clothes and Tony Parker scored eight points in 14 minutes, all in the first half.

Yao played the first quarter and had one basket and three rebounds. Artest and Scola scored six points each for the Rockets (2-0) in the quarter, but Jacque Vaughn's pullup jumper with 1.4 seconds left tied it at 22.

Parker played five minutes in the first quarter, then returned in the second, with Darryl Watkins and rookies Devin Green, Anthony Tolliver and Malik Hairston rounding out the lineup. At that point, Houston countered with Aaron Brooks, Chuck Hayes, Luther Head, Von Wafer and rookie Joey Dorsey.

Wafer, who signed as a free agent just before training camp began, finished a fast break with a slam and hit a 20-footer to put the Rockets up 31-26. Spurs (0-1) regulars Fabricio Oberto and Ime Udoka rejoined Parker later in the second quarter. Artest also returned and hit two 3-pointers during a 15-0 spurt that pushed the Rockets' lead to 46-30.

Wafer had nine points in the first half and Houston led 50-34 at halftime. Wafer finished with 14 points.

Houston's starting lineup was back on the court for the third quarter and Scola's three-point play near the 4-minute mark stretched the lead to 66-46. Yao scored six points in the quarter, including a one-handed dunk, before going to the bench for the night.

Popovich played most of the fourth quarter with a lineup of Green, Watkins, Tolliver, Hairston and rookie George Hill. Rookie Charles Gaines checked in later and the youngsters got within four points.

Mike Harris scored inside to put the Rockets up 84-78 and Brooks took a charge on Hill's drive in the final minute to secure the win.

Notes: San Antonio F Kurt Thomas (strained left hamstring) and G Salim Stoudamire (sprained right ankle) did not make the trip. Popovich said both players would be ready to play again within a week. ... Brent Barry started in McGrady's place. ... Rockets F Carl Landry, who scored 18 points in the preseason opener on Tuesday, did not play.