Orlando, Fla. ? Tracy McGrady ignored the boos and the angry crowd. He just played hard — and won.

Playing in Orlando for the first time since a bitter parting last summer, McGrady scored 27 points to lead a balanced offense and the Houston Rockets beat the Magic, 108-99, on Thursday night.

“I was so focused,” said McGrady, winner of two scoring titles in four seasons with Orlando. “I knew the reception I was going to get, but while I was out on the basketball court I was just trying to find ways to get myself going and make my team better.”

Unlike his time in Orlando, when McGrady often was the Magic’s first, last and only scoring option, his Rockets teammates can help — and he is willing to lean on them.

Yao Ming added 20 points, and Bob Sura had 19 points, a season-high 11 rebounds and nine assists. David Wesley scored 18, and Juwan Howard 13.

“I didn’t want to come out and make it a Tracy McGrady show, jacking up shots and playing outside the offense,” said McGrady, who shot 8-of-21, including 1-for-7 on three-pointers, but made 10 of 12 free throws. “I was calm and I was in the flow. Whatever Coach called, I ran.”

Added Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy: “I thought he struck the right balance. He played the game to win, versus as an individual showcase.”

Magic forward Grant Hill said this was one of the best floor games he ever had seen his former teammate play.

“I think he realizes that other guys getting touches, getting involved early helps closing games out,” said Hill, sidelined for almost all of McGrady’s stay in Orlando. “It might not be as sexy as scoring 50 … but you can see the growth on his part.”

Houston's Tracy McGrady, right, dribbles the ball between his legs while being guarded by Orlando's Grant Hill in the first quarter. McGrady scored 27 and the Rockets won, 108-99, Thursday in Orlando, Fla.

Steve Francis, the biggest name Orlando received in the McGrady trade, led the Magic with 28 points and nine assists. Kelvin Cato, who also came over from Houston, tied his season high with 14 points.

Hill had 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting, the day after an MRI exam on his wrist showed only a bruise. Tuesday, he scored a season-low eight points.

“Part of me thought I shouldn’t go,” Hill said. “But it’s Houston, Steve Francis, Mac, TNT.”

The sellout crowd, focusing its frustration for last season’s 61-loss debacle on McGrady, booed him throughout. Many waved signs roasting “Me-Mac” for his recent disclosure that he slacked off during his final season here.

Mavs 99, Clippers 77

Dallas — Jason Terry scored 11 of his 15 points in the third quarter, when Dallas went ahead to stay against Los Angeles.

With Avery Johnson coaching while Don Nelson missed his first game after shoulder surgery, the Mavericks went on a 14-6 run during the final 3:44 of the third quarter. Terry had half the points in the game-turning stretch.

Los Angeles has lost four straight and six of eight. The Clippers (18-21) are three games under .500 for the first time this season.

Kings 123, Cavaliers 96

Sacramento, Calif. — Mike Bibby had 17 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for the second triple-double of his career, and Sacramento shut down LeBron James in its sixth straight victory.

Chris Webber had 27 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Kings, who streaked to a big lead in the third quarter with an impressive exhibition of passing. Sacramento took control with a 16-5 run early in the third quarter, with each basket seemingly resulting from an excellent pass or an eye-catching steal.