Yao Ming had a season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds Wednesday as the Houston Rockets beat New York 86-71 Wednesday night, handing Lenny Wilkens his first loss as Knicks coach.
The game was similar to Jan. 8, when the Rockets humbled the Knicks 111-79 at Madison Square Garden, jumping out to a 23-2 lead in the first quarter. Houston didn't heat up until getting behind this time.
"Yao was obviously the dominant force," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "When he makes his jump shot, he's really hard to guard. They played two types of defenders on him. I thought he did a good job playing to his strength against each guy."
Wilkens won his first three games after replacing Don Chaney on Jan. 15, and the Knicks had won four straight overall.
Yao was pleased with the Rockets victory but was disappointed at not setting a career high point record, and playing on the Chinese New Year.
"I hate games on holidays," Yao said. "It should be a day to rest. I should be at home watching TV and playing video games."
New York got the early jump, bursting to a 20-8 lead. Houston hit only four of its first 18 shots and was 5-for-19 in the opening period, while the Knicks hit 46 percent.
From that 12-point deficit, the Rockets outscored the Knicks 39-15 to take a 47-35 lead at the half. Maurice Taylor had nine second quarter points and finished with 21.
The Knicks tried to slow Yao with Dikembe Mutombo and Michael Doleac, but Yao kept shooting. He hit 12 of 15 field goals.
"We wanted to be aggressive," Wilkens said. "Yeah, shut down the backcourt but Mo Taylor and Yao Ming killed us," Wilkens said. "We had good energy, but we got anxious and we never got Allan [Houston] off the mark.
"I was surprised to see us so anxious."
The Knicks scored only nine points in the second quarter -- a season low for a Houston opponent -- and didn't get a basket in the period until Mutombo's scored with 5:33 left.
With Houston down 26-16 at the start of the second quarter, Taylor scored nine points in a four-minute span, including a layup with 8:57 to go that gave Houston its first lead, 27-26.
"That's what coach asked me to do," Taylor said. "When he puts me in the game, early he told me to bring us some energy and get us going a little bit. That's what I try to do."
Yao returned after sitting out much of the first quarter with two fouls and contributed six points down the stretch to halftime.
Allan Houston and Penny Hardaway each had 12 points to lead the Knicks, and Keith Van Horn added 11.
The Rockets were able to slow down the Knicks.
"We should play a little more uptempo but when you get in a halfcourt game, you really have to execute," Wilkens said. "You have to know your offense so well that you can help get the guys open that you want to have the ball."
Timberwolves 108, Raptors 97
Sam Cassell had 30 points and 13 assists to lead Minnesota to a 108-97 victory over the Toronto Raptors, the Timberwolves' seventh win their last eight games.
Kevin Garnett had 28 points and 11 rebounds, and Latrell Sprewell added 24 points for Minnesota, 19-4 in its last 23 games.
"When it comes down to us needing a basket, the three of us put our heads together and say, `Let's do it,'" Garnett said.
Cassell, who hopes to be selected for the All-Star game for the first time in his career, scored 14 points in the final 6:10.
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