HOUSTON - Luther Head hit a 3-pointer with 12.2 seconds left and Yao Ming deflected a pass and created a game-sealing steal as the Houston Rockets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 109-105 on Wednesday night.

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (11) of China loses the ball against Los Angeles Clippers' Aaron Williams in the second half of the Rockets' 109-105 win in NBA basketball Wednesday, March 14, 2007, in Houston. [AP]

The Rockets nearly collapsed in the fourth quarter after building a 17-point lead in the first half.

Elton Brand scored a season-high 37 points and drove for a dunk with 1:01 left that put the Clippers up 105-104.

Yao was whistled for an offensive foul barreling down the lane, but Brand missed a shot from the wing to give Houston another chance.

Tracy McGrady, who led the Rockets with 21, drew the defense to him and found Head wide open in the corner for the go-ahead 3-pointer. Head came into the game shooting 44 percent from 3-point range in the fourth quarter.

After a timeout, Brand tried to find Corey Maggette cutting to the basket, but Yao batted the ball to Rafer Alston, who raced down the floor and was fouled with 5.9 seconds remaining. Alston hit the free throws and finished with 20 points.

Chuck Hayes added 16 points for the Rockets, who've won four of their past five and 13 of their past 16 meetings with the Clippers.

Brand also had 10 rebounds to get his 29th double-double of the season. Chris Kaman added 16 for the Clippers, who've lost five in a row and six of their past seven.

The Clippers missed 10 of their first 11 shots and trailed 25-9 eight minutes into the game. The Rockets hit 9 of their first 11 shots.

Hayes, Houston's power forward, had 10 points in the first quarter, reaching double digits for the fourth time in five games.

The Clippers regrouped and shot much better in the second quarter, hitting 11 of 20 shots. Cuttino Mobley had eight points in the quarter to lead the comeback and Brand hit two free throws to cut the deficit to 57-52 by halftime.

Alston and McGrady opened the third quarter with 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 11. Both teams played a sloppy quarter from there, with wild passes and missed shots. McGrady did have one highlight-reel play, a behind-the-back assist to Hayes for a layup.

The Rockets headed into the final quarter with an 87-76 lead.

Brand scored 12 points in the third quarter and swished back-to-back jumpers from the wing over the 7-foot-6 Yao early in the fourth to trim Houston's lead to 93-88.

Yao scored with 7:18 remaining, but Hayes, the Rockets' second-leading scorer to that point, fouled out trying to guard Brand. Daniel Ewing then made a 3-pointer to draw the Clippers within four.

Juwan Howard hit a free throw with 5:26 to go, but Kaman scored twice from close range, drawing a foul on Shane Battier after the second basket. Kaman's free throw with 3:56 left tied the game at 96.

Maggette turned a steal into a fast-break layup and a three-point play to give Los Angeles its first lead at 99-96. The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes before Head's clutch shot put the Rockets ahead for good.

Yao had only 14 points in his sixth game back from a broken leg. He cracked his right tibial plateau in the first quarter against the Clippers on Dec. 26.