Artest will sit out the next two games for Houston (14-8) with a sprained right ankle. Yao skipped practice Thursday because of a cold, and his status for Friday is uncertain.

McGrady, however, was able to practice and may return ahead of schedule from a knee injury. He's missed Houston's last seven games with soreness in his left knee, a lingering effect of offseason surgery.

"We've got to win games and keep our heads above water," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "If we're going to have injuries like this, you just have to win as many as you can."

McGrady said last Tuesday that he would be out another three weeks, but Adelman said McGrady went full speed in practice Thursday.

Adelman said McGrady would not play "extended" minutes Friday because his stamina is down, but his return would be a huge boost against a Golden State team that's beginning to gain confidence in its aggressive offense.

"It was good to see him out there," Adelman said. "He went through the whole scrimmage. He got tired, but he didn't limp. It's just conditioning at this point."

The Rockets were without McGrady against the Warriors (7-15) last Friday, but had their best offensive game of the season in a 131-112 victory.

Houston won despite also playing without sharp-shooting reserve Brent Barry, who has missed eight straight games with a torn calf muscle. He practiced Thursday, but doubted he would be ready to play Friday.

Artest had 28 points versus Golden State, then sat out Monday's loss in Memphis.

The veteran forward had an MRI exam Tuesday that revealed damaged ligaments in the ankle, an old injury that he recently re-aggravated. Later that night, Artest played 39 minutes and scored 19 points in a 92-84 win over Atlanta.

Adelman continues to be careful with Shane Battier, who missed the first 15 games this season with inflammation in his left foot. He's averaged 28 minutes in six games since, but the coach is concerned about Battier playing back-to-back games.

Battier had 14 points in 30 minutes against the Warriors, who suffered their eight defeat during what became a nine-game losing streak. Golden State has since won two straight for the second time this season, averaging 115.5 points.

The Warriors' fourth quarter in a 119-96 win over Milwaukee on Wednesday night perfectly showcased the high-octane style coach Don Nelson prefers. Golden State outscored the Bucks 37-15 in the fourth, getting surprising help from reserves such as Marco Belinelli.

"When we're aggressive, we win games," said Belinelli, who scored 11 of his 15 points in the final period and added a handful of stunning passes. "For me, when I have my opportunities, I can do something to help this team. I believe in all of our people. We're young, we like to run, and if we stay aggressive, we can win games."

Belinelli, the 18th pick in the 2007 draft, has scored in double figures in two straight games for the first time in his career. He had 13 points in a win over Oklahoma City on Monday night.