Los Angeles - The suddenly slumping Boston Celtics have lost their way and some of their swagger. China's Yao Ming scored 26 points, Von Wafer drilled the go-ahead three-pointer with 44 seconds left and the Houston Rockets sent the the Celtics to their third straight loss, with an 89-85 victory on Wednesday night.
The stumbling Rockets (22-15) ended a three-game losing streak and a five-game road slide.
"This is a big win for us," said Yao, who also pulled down 12 rebounds. "We have been struggling the last two weeks and we really needed a big game like tonight."
Paul Pierce tossed in 26 points and Kevin Garnett had 18 for the Celtics (29-8) who were outscored 18-11 in the fourth quarter after hitting just four-of-18 field goal attempts.
After starting the season with a sizzling 27-2 record, including a franchise-best 19-game winning streak, the reigning NBA champion Celtics have dropped six of eight, including their first setback at TD Banknorth Garden since November 14.
"Our goal is to go out and shut teams down but right now our defense is not getting the job done," Pierce said. "We have to get our defensive swagger back, because it's been broken these last 10 or 12 days. It's just a matter of going back to the basics and doing what we do."
Despite the recent struggle, the once nearly invincible but now vulnerable Celtics remain upbeat they will get back on track.
"I think the confidence is still there," Pierce added. "We bend but we don't break. That's pretty much what it's all about. In difficult times, the great thing is that we are together. No one is pointing the finger. It's a tough stretch and we know we are going to get through this rough patch of the season."
The Celtics travel to Cleveland on Friday in a marquee match-up against the Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers, who are perfect at home this season.
Houston trailed by one until speedy guard Aaron Brooks (19 points) spotted Wafer, who buried the triple from the right corner, giving the Rockets the lead for good, 87-85.
After Pierce missed a jumper, Houston's Carl Landry had his layup blocked by Kendrick Perkins at the other end. Yao, however, grabbed the loose ball in the lane and hit the game-sealing layup with 12.9 seconds remaining.
Elsewhere:
Cleveland Cavaliers 111, Charlotte Bobcats 81 LeBron James scored 21 points, and the Cavaliers (28-6) moved to 18-0 at home to remain knotted with the LA Lakers for the NBA's best record.
LA Lakers 114, Golden State Warriors 106 Spaniard Pau Gasol scored 14 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed a career-best 18 rebounds, rallying the visiting Lakers to their seventh victory in eight games.
Kobe Bryant added 21 points, while Andrew Bynum contributed 18 with 11 rebounds for the Lakers (28-6) who outscored their hosts 37-26 in the final frame.
Jamal Crawford netted 25 points, and Corey Maggette had 19 in the Warriors' (10-27) fourth straight defeat.
Orlando Magic 106, Atlanta Hawks 102 Dwight Howard had 23 points with 19 rebounds and the Magic nearly blew a 21-point cushion before holding off the host Hawks.
Josh Smith scored 21 points for Atlanta (22-12) which dropped to 15-3 at home.
New Jersey Nets 100, Memphis Grizzlies 89 Vince Carter had 25 points with a season-high 12 assists, China's Yi Jianlian scored 20 and the Nets won their third in a row at home.
Toronto Raptors 99, Washington Wizards 93 Italy's Andrea Bargnani scored 25 points, and Chris Bosh added 18, leading the visiting Raptors past the Eastern Conference worst Wizards (7-27) despite Antawn Jamison's season-high 32 points.
Minnesota Timberwolves 129, Oklahoma City Thunder 87 Randy Foye scored a career tying high 32 points, and the Timberwolves (10-25) routed the league-worst Thunder ((5-31) for their season-high fourth consecutive victory.
Philadelphia 76ers 110, Milwaukee Bucks 105 Andre Miller scored 28 points, including a key three-pointer with 28 seconds left, helping the Sixers slip past the host Bucks
Denver Nuggets 108, Miami Heat 97 Chauncey Billups, Linas Kleiza and J.R. Smith scored 21 points apiece as the Nuggets rolled to their fifth straight win, in their first game since losing All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony for three-to four weeks with a broken bone in his right shooting hand.
League's top scorer Dwyane Wade had 31 points for Miami (18-16) which opened a seven-game, 13-days road trip.
Indiana Pacers 113, Phoenix Suns 110 Danny Granger capped a career-high 37-point effort with a game-winning buzzer-beating three-pointer, as the visiting Pacers snapped the Suns' three-game winning streak
Utah Jazz 116, New Orleans Hornets 90 Paul Millsap had 27 points with 14 rebounds and the Jazz drummed the travel-weary Hornets.
Chris Paul had 26 points and seven assists for New Orleans (21-11), which snapped the LA Lakers' 15-game home winning streak, 24 hours earlier.
Portland Trail Blazers 84, Detroit Pistons 83 Travis Outlaw nailed a fade-away jumper with 8.9 seconds left, and the Trail Blazers broke the Pistons' seven-game winning streak, when Allen Iverson missed a short jumper just before the buzzer.
LaMarcus Aldridge led host Portland (21-14) with 26 points, while Tayshaun Prince paced Detroit (21-12) also with 26.
