Yao Ming had 29 points and 11 rebounds Wednesday to outplay Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal and lead the Houston Rockets over Los Angeles.
The Rockets pulled away in the fourth quarter behind Yao, who scored 11 of Houston's last 15 points in the final 6:12. He hit five free throws and three field goals, including a hook over O'Neal.
PHOTO: AP
"I was very surprised how I was able to do," Yao said. "We kept moving the ball and moving our people on defense, and Shaq couldn't catch up to it. We have to face a lot of Western Conference teams and this will be a big boost to our confidence."
O'Neal, who finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, fouled out with 3:20 to play. Kobe Bryant came off the injured list and scored 14 points for the Lakers.
"We played as a team and everybody played together with great chemistry and they couldn't get hold of what we were trying to do," Yao said.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson thought Yao played his best game in four meetings with O'Neal.
"It was a great effort from Ming down the stretch," Jackson said.
Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy was pleased with Yao's performance.
"We have to make adjustments throughout the game if you're playing against the best player in the league, and he did that," Van Gundy said. "He went with his jump hook and he drove and he spun."
The battle between All-Star centers started with O'Neal scoring on a hook over Yao for the Lakers' first points. Yao scored over O'Neal moments later.
Yao got more votes than O'Neal and will start for the Western Conference in the All-Star game Sunday. O'Neal has outscored Yao 116-63 in their matchups.
O'Neal didn't concede too much to Yao.
"He made the shots, but he got the whistle, too," O'Neal said. "He's a big guy and has a soft touch. I don't think he'll ever be able to play me one-on-one, ever, ever, ever. We let this one slip away. They played with a lot of effort. We just made mistakes."
The Rockets went ahead 73-63 late in the third quarter, and Yao got them off to a quick start in the fourth with two free throws and a jumper. Steve Francis and Jim Jackson hit 3-pointers to boost the lead to 83-69 with 9:01 to play.
Francis then hit two free throws after a flagrant foul against O'Neal, and the Rockets were up 85-70. They beat the Lakers for the second time this season.
Gary Payton scored 19 points for Los Angeles.
Bryant missed seven games with a cut on his right index finger.
"I was about 90 percent, but I felt great," he said. "I was just waiting for things to open up for me. If they did test me, I didn't notice it. I felt fine and my stroke was there. It didn't affect me at all."
There were 14 lead changes in the first quarter before the Rockets took the lead late in the period and held on for a 46-45 lead at halftime. Houston led most of the first half. The Lakers took a brief 43-42 lead late in the second quarter before Yao's dunk over O'Neal put Houston ahead.
Yao gave the crowd its biggest thrill in the first quarter when he came racing through the lane and batted away a shot by Stanislav Medvedenko.
Nets 105, Cavaliers 85
Lawrence Frank improved to 9-0 since taking over as New Jersey's interim coach and the Nets won their 10th straight game Wednesday night, 105-85 over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Frank, a fresh-faced 33-year-old who doesn't look much older than some ballboys, tied an NBA record for the best start as a coach shared by Kurt Rambis (Los Angeles Lakers, 1998-1999) and Buddy Jeannette (Baltimore Bullets, 1947-1948).
"He's a leader," Kerry Kittles said. "Give him credit, he's pushing the right buttons. He comes up with a good game plan and we all feel comfortable going in."
Kittles scored all 27 of his points in the second half for New Jersey.
The Nets became just the second team in league history to win 10 straight games by more than 10 points, tying a mark set by the 1946-1947 Washington Capitals coached by Red Auerbach.
New Jersey also tied a team mark with its fifth straight road win, and the Nets' 10-game winning streak is their second-longest ever. New Jersey won 11 in a row in 1982-1983.
Jason Kidd added 14 points and 12 rebounds, and fellow All-Star Kenyon Martin scored 21 points.
Cleveland rookie LeBron James had nine points -- his lowest output since Dec. 6.
"I'm going to get some [rest]," James said. "It's been a long season. It's been about as long as three of my high school seasons."
76ers 113, Wizards 88
In Philadelphia, Allen Iverson scored 25 points as Philadelphia gave interim coach Chris Ford a successful debut with a victory over Washington.
The Sixers fired Randy Ayers on Monday just 52 games into his first season after taking over for Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, who now coaches the Detroit Pistons. Ford, who led Boston to division titles in 1991 and '92, was promoted from assistant for the rest of the season.
Juan Dixon scored 21 points for Washington, which had won two straight. The Wizards were without leading scorer Larry Hughes, who broke his left wrist Saturday and will miss four to six weeks.
Glenn Robinson and John Salmons scored 15, and reserve Zendon Hamilton had a season-high 14 points and 10 rebounds for Philadelphia.
Heat 111, Magic 98
In Orlando, Florida, Dwyane Wade scored 27 points, Rafer Alston added a season-high 23 and Miami snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over Orlando.
Lamar Odom had 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Brian Grant added 16 points, and Rasual Butler tied his season high with 12.
The Heat outrebounded Orlando 46-24, with their starters holding a 42-13 advantage. Grant grabbed 12 rebounds and Wade a season-high 10.
Orlando, which lost its seventh straight, was led by Tracy McGrady's 24 points.
Kings 96, Pistons 94
In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Peja Stojakovic's jumper with 0.4 seconds left lifted Sacramento over Detroit.
Mike Bibby scored 26 and Stojakovic had 25 points for the Western Conference-leading Kings, who have won seven of eight and five straight on the road. Brad Miller added 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Richard Hamilton scored 27 for the Pistons, who head into the All-Star break with a season-high five-game losing streak. Ben Wallace tied a season high with 17 points, and grabbed 19 rebounds. Chauncey Billups, who was averaging almost 18, was 1-of-8 for three points.
Two Pistons were ejected in the third quarter -- Zeljko Rebraca for punching Miller and Corliss Williamson for a hard foul on Miller.
Grizzlies 110, Clippers 102
In Memphis, Tennessee, Pau Gasol had 22 points and eight rebounds, sending Memphis to a victory over Los Angeles.
Five players scored in double figures for the surprising Grizzlies (30-22), who withstood a fourth-quarter rally and increased their franchise record for wins.
Memphis won for the fifth time in six games, and the Grizzlies are 19-7 at home.
Elton Brand had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Clippers, who were missing leading scorer Corey Maggette and third-leading scorer Quentin Richardson due to injuries.
Hornets 106, Knicks 98
In New York, Baron Davis had 29 points and a career-high six steals, leading New Orleans past New York.
Darrell Armstrong scored all nine of his points on 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and Jamal Mashburn scored 19 for New Orleans, which had lost five of six.
Stephon Marbury led New York with 29 points and 10 assists. Penny Hardaway came off the bench to score 19 for the Knicks, who were playing their second road game in two nights. They head into the All-Star break on a two-game losing skid.
Timberwolves 77, Jazz 66
In Salt Lake City, Kevin Garnett scored 17 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for his 14th straight double-double to lead Minnesota past Utah.
Sam Cassell, nearly ejected late in the third quarter, finished with 24 points and seven assists for Minnesota. Fred Hoiberg scored all the points in a 10-4 run as the Timberwolves pulled away in the fourth quarter.
Andrei Kirilenko had 21 points, nine rebounds and five blocks to lead the Jazz.
Warriors 110, Suns 99
In Oakland, California, Brian Cardinal scored 23 of his career-best 32 points in the first half, and Speedy Claxton had 19 points and a career-best 13 assists in Golden State's victory over Phoenix.
Cardinal surpassed his career high for the fifth time in his remarkable season, and Jason Richardson scored 19 points in the Warriors' second straight victory heading into the All-Star break.
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