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."
PHOTO: AFP
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."
PHOTO: EPA
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.
PHOTO: AFP
"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.
"In my eyes I've been an All-Star for the last four years of my career," Cassell said. "But the West is the best conference and I'm doing this in the West."
Donyell Marshall had 22 points for the Raptors.
Hawks 97, Bulls 87
In Atlanta, Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored eight points in an 11-0 run in the final 3:36 to help Atlanta move into seventh place in the Central Division, a half-game ahead of Chicago.
Abdur-Rahim finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Stephen Jackson also had 22 points for the Hawks. Kendall Gill and Eddie Robinson scored 17 points apiece for Chicago.
Grizzlies 88, Lakers 82
In Memphis, Tennessee, Jason Williams had 17 points and 10 assists to help the Grizzlies past the Los Angeles Lakers for their sixth straight victory.
Los Angeles, playing without the injured Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone, has lost three of its last four games.
Mike Miller led Memphis with 18 points, and Pau Gasol added 17. Gary Payton led Los Angeles with 24 points.
Bucks 113, Magic 102
In Milwaukee, Michael Redd scored 32 of his career-high 40 points in the second half as Milwaukee downed Orlando.
Redd had a three-point play with 47 seconds left, made his final 10 shots and was 12-of-15 in the second half.
Desmond Mason added 18 points for the Bucks, who bounced back from a 106-99 loss in Orlando on Monday.
Tracy McGrady had 20 points for Orlando, but was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Juwon Howard tied a season high with 24 points.
76ers 92, Hornets 86
In New Orleans, Glenn Robinson scored 23 points and Allen Iverson had 22 to help Philadelphia beat New Orleans to snap a three-game losing streak.
Darrell Armstrong had 29 points and five steals for New Orleans.
Spurs 99, Nets 76
In San Antonio, Manu Ginobili scored all eight of his points in a 18-6 run at the start of the fourth quarter, helping defending champion San Antonio beat New Jersey in a rematch of the NBA Finals.
The Spurs, who built up a small cushion after trailing most of the first half, outscored New Jersey 28-12 in the fourth in the Nets' first appearance at the SBC Center since they lost the decisive sixth game of the championship series in June.
Tim Duncan led San Antonio with 21 points and 17 rebounds, and Hedo Turkoglu had a season-high 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Kerry Kittles led the Nets with 30 points.
Nuggets 97, Suns 92
In Denver, Earl Boykins and Marcus Camby combined to score Denver's last 18 points, helping the Nuggets end Phoenix's four-game winning streak.
Camby had 22 points and 18 rebounds. Andre Miller also had 22 points, Rodney White added 17, Carmelo Anthony had 14 and Boykins 13. Joe Johnson led Phoenix with 28 points.
Clippers 106, Warriors 102
In LA, Quentin Richardson scored 25 points, while rookie Matt Barnes made three key baskets down the stretch and finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers edged Golden State.
Corey Maggette had 22 points and eight rebounds, and Elton Brand added 16 points and 13 rebounds.
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