TRACY MCGRADY scored 34 points and Yao Ming had 24 points and 13 rebounds Friday night in his first home game since returning from a leg injury, leading the Houston Rockets to a 112-91 victory over the New Jersey Nets.

McGrady topped 30 points for the 18th time this season and also had five assists and four rebounds.

With Yao back and drawing a crowd down low, McGrady was glad to not be the opponent’s only defensive focus for a change.

“We have a low-post presence now, something we’ve been missing,” McGrady said. “It’s great to have him back. In order for us to win in the playoffs, we’re going to have to have that.”

McGrady missed seven games in December with back spasms and returned just before Yao broke his right tibia. The Rockets improved to 16-7 when their two All-Stars play together this season.

“It’s never been that we need him or Yao,” Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy said. “We need both guys playing at a high level. When they do that, we’ll have a chance.”

Yao, who missed 32 games, was 6-of-11 from the field and went 12-of-13 from the free throw line, despite playing with tape around the middle and ring fingers on his shooting hand. Yao dislocated his middle finger late in Wednesday’s 111-80 win at Boston.

Yao left Friday’s game with a bruised left thigh with 3:39 remaining in the third quarter, but came back midway through the fourth.

He left for good with 3:47 to play.

(SD-Agencies)