BEIJING, Jan. 9 -- NBA champions Boston Celtics suffered their third straight defeat after Houston Rockets edged them 89-85 at home on Wednesday. Houston guard Von Wafer made a go-ahead three-pointer with 43 seconds left and Yao Ming added two of his team-high 26 in the final seconds to clinch victory.

The Celtics entered the contest having lost five of their last seven road games, but the holders could not find any solace at home either.

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming passes the ball over Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo during the first quarter of their NBA game in Boston on Wednesday.

"In our last timeout, you could see it in our guys' eyes. Like 'shoot, we're going to lose a home game,'" Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "It bothered them. I was thinking, 'that's a good thing.'"

Paul Pierce led the way with 26 points for the Celtics (29-8), who scored a season-low 11 points in the fourth quarter to let the Rockets snap a three-game slide and avoid losing six successive road games for the first time since 2001-02.

Playing without the injured shooting guard Tracy McGrady, Houston relied on 19 points from point guard Aaron Brooks and 17 from big offseason acquisition Ron Artest, who had missed his last two games with an ankle ailment.

Houston (22-15) began the season as title contenders but have yet to display that level of play, beset by injuries besides disappointing starts to the season from leaders McGrady and Artest.

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