"Much-traveled point guard Rafer Alston has played for five different teams in 10 seasons, including two separate stints with Toronto and Heat, so he's used to homecomings.

But even Alston, who enjoyed his best statistical seasons with the Rockets from 2005 to 2009, did not recognize the up-tempo Rockets he faced in Friday's game at Toyota Center, a team without injury-prone stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.

Yao has been out all season with a foot injury and McGrady has been on an indefinite leave of absence since Dec. 29 after complaining about playing time to coach Rick Adelman, when he averaged 7.7 minutes in six games. McGrady played just 35 games last season before undergoing microfracture knee surgery and is on the trading block.

"I'm running out of lifelines,'' Alston joked after Friday's morning shootaround. "I think what could've been despite all the injuries . . . It was very rare to play with both of them on the floor.

"But they're still a dangerous team. People remember whenever Yao or Tracy were out we ended up picking up our level of play and had a nice run.''"