TORONTO - Rafer Alston scored 23 points, Yao Ming added 23 points and 12 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets never trailed in a 114-100 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

Houston Rockets forward Yao Ming goes up for a slam dunk against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Toronto, March 16, 2007. Yao Ming scored 23 points and 12 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets never trailed in a 114-100 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. [Reuters]

Alston, who played parts of two seasons with Toronto, also had nine assists and eight rebounds before fouling out with 3:26 to play.

Tracy McGrady scored 24 points with seven assists for the Rockets, who have won five of six.

T.J. Ford had 18 points and eight assists for the Raptors, who lost for the first time in five games.

Chris Bosh added 16 points and 19 rebounds for Toronto, while Juan Dixon scored 17 and Andrea Bargnani had 16.

The Rockets made all five of their 3-point attempts in the opening quarter and reeled off a 15-0 run at one stretch to lead 35-18 after 12 minutes.

Toronto coach Sam Mitchell called time out midway through the second quarter with his team down 50-28, their biggest deficit of the night. His message spurred a 14-4 run that put the Raptors back in the game. Toronto went into the break trailing 62-53.

The Raptors drew to within seven points at 64-57 early in the third, but never got closer the rest of the way.

Notes: Before the game, the Raptors activated guard Darrick Martin and forward Pape Sow in place of guards Jose Calderon and Anthony Parker, who both have sprained ankles. ... Houston out-rebounded Toronto 47-33.