The Houston Rockets moved to reinforce their depleted ranks by bringing back a familiar name, signing John Lucas III, the son of former Rockets guard John Lucas, the first pick of the 1976 draft, a source with knowledge of the transaction said today.

Like his father, Lucas is a traditional point guard, potentially offering help at the position at which Bob Sura and Rafer Alston have been hurt this season.

Lucas, 5-11, 165, played for the Minnesota Timberwolves' Summer League team, but was waived during the preseason. In 14 games with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, Lucas averaged 15.1 points on 52.8 percent shooting, and three assists.

The Houston Rockets signed forward Josh Davis on Thursday, and waived swingman Stephen Graham.

The 6-foot-8 Davis saw limited action in four games for the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this season. He averaged 2.8 points and 7.8 minutes in 42 games with the Philadelphia 76ers last season.

Davis was the MVP of the CBA in 2003, when he averaged 18.7 points and 9.6 rebounds.

Graham signed with the Rockets on Dec. 10 and averaged 2.8 points and 1.2 rebounds in six games.

The Houston Rockets made a valiant comeback only to have David West send them home losers again.

West scored 15 points, including a jumper with 1.8 seconds left, as the New Orleans Hornets escaped with a 92-90 victory over the Rockets, who have lost four in a row.

The Hornets responded when West got the ball at the top of the key from rookie Chris Paul, who collected 11 points and a season-high 15 assists. West faked a pass to get Houston's David Wesley off his feet before drilling the shot over the outstretched arms of forward Juwan Howard.

"I knew I was going to get the ball," West said. "I knew they weren't going to allow Chris (Paul) to beat them. I got open and froze Wesley with a pass fake, and hit the shot. I won't pass that shot up."

Stromile Swift, who had his best game as a Rocket by collecting season highs of 26 points and 13 rebounds, had a chance to tie the game, but his jump hook bounced harmlessly off the rim as time expired.

"It wasn't good enough, we didn't get the win," Swift said. "I try to come in and bring energy. The effort was there, but we just didn't pull it off."

Granted a waiver by the NBA that will allow them to sign a 16th player, the Rockets were close to an agreement with Josh Davis, a forward playing with the CBA Idaho Stampede, Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said.

Davis, a 6-8, 240-pound forward, has played 50 NBA games with the Hawks, 76ers and Bucks but was released by Milwaukee this month.

In three games with the Stampede, he averaged 17.3 points and 6.6 rebounds.

"He's had some NBA experience with a good stretch with Philadelphia," Dawson said. "He's a pretty rugged player, a good rebounder and can spread the floor. He can shoot the 3."

Houston star Tracy McGrady left at halftime of the Rockets' game against Utah on Tuesday night when he learned his fiancee had gone into labor at a local hospital.

McGrady had 21 points and five assists in the first half, helping the Rockets to a 41-36 halftime lead.

Rockets spokesman Nelson Luis took a call from one of McGrady's assistants near the end of the first half, and team trainer Keith Jones told McGrady the news.

McGrady left the arena without speaking to reporters.

The Houston Rockets proved they couldn't win without Tracy McGrady. Now they will have to prove they can win without Yao Ming.

Yao will be sidelined for at least "several weeks" after undergoing surgery on his left big toe, the team said in a statement Monday.

Rockets team physician Dr. Tom Clanton performed the surgery to clean out an infection in Yao's toe. Yao was diagnosed with osteomyelitis, which is common inflammation of the bone caused by bacteria.

The Rockets said that Yao will take antibiotics and rest for several weeks in order to allow the infection to properly resolve itself.

Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets missed his first game of the season and the third of his NBA career Sunday night because of a sore right big toe that will sideline him indefinitely.

"It's not a one-game thing," coach Jeff Van Gundy said before the Rockets met the Los Angeles Lakers in the finale of a six-game road trip. "It will probably be a multiple-game thing, whatever that is. We'll know more after he sees the doctor.

"He doesn't miss much. So when he misses, he's hurt."

Yao returned home before Sunday night's game. He has had a problem with his right big toe for some time, missing two preseason games because it was bothering him.

The 25-year-old center has played in 266 regular-season games since joining the Rockets in 2002. Houston returns to action Wednesday night at home against Toronto.

"We can still win," Van Gundy said. "Obviously, your chances are better when you have your better players."

Not even a disappointing start could keep Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets from gaining accolades from NBA fans.

Yao is the leading vote-getter with 729,178 and McGrady leads all Western Conference forwards after the first returns of the 2006 NBA All-Star Balloting program, announced Thursday.

Through the program, fans from around the world are responsible for voting in the starters for the 55th NBA All-Star Game, which will be played in Houston on Sunday, February 19.

The Rockets (8-12) are in last place in the Southwest Conference due in part to a back injury that has forced McGrady to miss eight games. Yao is a three-time All-Star averaging a career-high 19.5 points and 9.10 rebounds and McGrady is averaging 24.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

A five-time All-Star, McGrady has garnered 600,507 votes and is followed by Minnesota's Kevin Garnett with 469,497. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is the top vote-getter among Western Conference guards with 664,744 with reigning league Most Valuable Player Steve Nash second with 562,846.

The Nets are trying to pry Stromile Swift from Houston. They are concerned about Jason Collins and now have Marc Jackson wondering whether he'd be better off somewhere else after he was benched last night.

Fun team, huh?

Yesterday, multiple league sources claimed the Nets and Rockets discussed a deal involving Swift for Jackson and a first-round pick, a deal that did not interest Houston. But the Nets are expected to intensify their quest as concern grows over Collins, who will undergo additional tests on his leg today.

The Nets had Swift as their second free-agent choice but after they appeared to sew up Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Swift signed with Houston. But Swift (who makes $5 million) has been a bench player, same as Jackson (who $4.55 million), who last night stayed calm and composed but was obviously upset by the DNP.

"A DNP means you can't help the team. If he don't think I can help the team, then maybe get rid of me for somebody you think can," Jackson said. "I think I show every day in practice I can help this team . . . I didn't get an opportunity tonight to help the team and that hurts."

The Houston Rockets have been fined by the NBA for a trip to Las Vegas last week.

League spokesman Tim Frank declined to disclose the amount of the fine, saying it is an internal matter.

"They took them to Las Vegas in the middle of a road trip, and that's against salary cap rules," Frank said Monday night.

Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson told Houston television station KRIV that he understands that the Rockets violated the rules and expects to find out the details on Tuesday.