HOUSTON — The Golden State Warriors hit all the items of their checklist and got a little bonus to beat the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

Jason Richardson scored 27 points, including seven 3-pointers, and the Warriors took advantage of Tracy McGrady’s absence to beat the Rockets 110-99.

The Warriors shut down Yao Ming, forced plenty of turnovers (24) and shot well from 3-point range (16-of-35), all things Coach Don Nelson thought they needed to do to win. But before all that, the Warriors got a boost when McGrady left the game with a back injury in the first half.

“The basketball gods were with us, because Tracy wasn’t able to play,” said Stephen Jackson, who scored 17.

Baron Davis had 25 points and 10 assists for the Warriors, who began the night 11⁄2 games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference. They won for the 11th time in 14 games, but for only the ninth time on the road this season.

“We’ve still got seven more games we need to fight and win,” said Richardson, who went 9-for-17 from the field and also grabbed nine rebounds. “We are having fun with it, we’re celebrating. But we’ve got to keep fighting.”

Luther Head hit seven 3-pointers and scored 30 points, both career highs, ably filling in for McGrady, who left in the first quarter with a stiff lower back.

But Yao was surrounded and smothered all night by Golden State’s big men and had his worst game since he scored two points and broke his right leg against the Los Angeles Clippers in December. With McGrady sidelined, the Warriors concentrated on swarming Yao and they succeeded in wearing him out.

“We were just trying to be very active on him,” said 6-foot-9 Al Harrington. “He was frustrated. He was sucking his teeth the whole time. He knew what we were trying to do. He knew it was going to be a long night.”