Yao's 26th Double-Double Helps End Blazers Win Streak
ao Ming started slow for the Rockets but had 11 points and 10 rebounds for his 26th double-double of the season. and the Houston Rockets stopped the Portland Trail Blazers' home winning streak with an 89-79 win Friday night.
Luis Scola had 11 points and 12 rebounds for Houston, which has won its last three and nine of 11.
Brandon Roy had 16 of his 23 points in the first half for the Blazers, who had won 12 straight at the Rose Garden. Portland made just seven of 30 shots (23.3 percent) in the second half.
Tracy McGrady had 15 points. Carl Landry added 12 points and eight rebounds.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 14 points and Travis Outlaw had 13 for Portland, which was outrebounded 48-30 and had its lowest scoring third quarter (12) , lowest scoring second half (29) and lowest shooting percentage (35.7 percent) of the season.
The Blazers were playing for the eighth time in 14 days, with the first seven games coming on a season-long road trip.
Roy hitting 7-of-10 from the field in the first half and the Blazers led by as many as 12. The Rockets committed 10 turnovers, three by Yao, who shot 0-for-3 from the field.
Roy hit three of his first four shots and Portland led 23-11 at 2:01 in the first quarter. McGrady came off the bench, as he has in three previous games back from a knee injury, and the Rockets came alive after he checked in.
The Rockets closed the gap with a 12-0 run, including five straight points from Bonzi Wells. Aaron Brooks converted a driving layup to tie the game at 32. McGrady put the Rockets ahead with a driving layup and free throw for a three-point play.
Roy hit a 3-pointer that put Portland up five at 3:02 in the second. He also hit an 18-footer with 22 seconds left and Portland led 50-42 at the half.
The scoring slowed dramatically in the third quarter where the teams combined for 14 turnovers.
Houston opened the second half on a 14-1 run that erased Portland's lead. The Blazers missed their first seven shots of the half, before Aldridge knocked down a 10-footer to pull them to 58-53.
Portland took back the lead on a jumper from Jarrett Jack that made it 62-60. McGrady didn't score in the third but his jumper at 10:31 in the fourth put Houston up 66-65. Luis Scola hit a 13-footer with 3:59 left to make it 79-73. Carl Landry converted a three-point play and the Blazers didn't challenge again.
Notes: Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard shot down a report that Portland was talking about a deal with the L.A. Clippers. 'We aren't making any trades,'' he said. ... Fans booed when Wells, who spent a turbulent six years with the Blazers, entered the game in the first quarter for Houston. Wells, who was playing despite flu symptoms, mockingly waved to the crowd, which caused fans to boo louder. ... Portland F Darius Miles, who hasn't played since 2005-06 after microfracture knee surgery, was wearing a protective boot after suffering Achilles tendinitis while rehabbing.
Sat January 26, 2008 02:26 EST
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)
Houston Rockets center Yao Ming pumps his fist in celebration from the bench during the final moments of their NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore., Friday, Jan. 25, 2008. Yao Ming, who scored 11 points, sat out the last half of the fourth quarter with five fouls as the Rockets beat the Blazers 89-79.
(AP Photo/Don Ryan)
ao Ming started slow for the Rockets but had 11 points and 10 rebounds for his 26th double-double of the season. and the Houston Rockets stopped the Portland Trail Blazers' home winning streak with an 89-79 win Friday night.
