ao Ming scored 21 points, Tracy McGrady added 18 points and nine rebounds, and the Houston Rockets bottled up Chris Paul in a 91-82 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday night.
Paul, who came in averaging 22 points, went 2-for-10 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free throw line to score 12. He had 12 assists, but the Hornets shot 41 percent (31-for-76) and were outrebounded 41-35.
Luis Scola added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who led by 12 at the half and shot 53 percent (8-for-15) in the third quarter to take a 70-53 lead to the fourth. The Hornets couldn't crack Houston's double-digit lead until the final 15 seconds.
James Posey scored five points in the first three minutes of the last quarter, but McGrady was fouled putting back his own miss and sank the free throw to preserve Houston's comfortable lead. McGrady drove to the basket all night and bounced back from a 2-for-12 outing in San Antonio on Friday.
The Hornets, who came in shooting 45.2 percent from the field for the season, missed eight of their first 12 shots in the final quarter and the Rockets led by 17 with 5 minutes left.
New Orleans twice pulled within 11 in the closing minutes, but Yao scored inside the first time and McGrady sank two free throws with 1:07 to go to put Houston up 88-75.
David West scored 18 and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Hornets. Tyson Chandler added 16 points and Devin Brown scored 13.
The Rockets swarmed Paul whenever he tried to drive the lane and the frustrated point guard finished with three turnovers. He twisted his ankle with 3:14 left in the first half, but stayed in the game and played 35 minutes.
Guarded mostly by Aaron Brooks early, Paul missed his first three shots and the Rockets built an eight-point lead in the first quarter. Brooks started for Rafer Alston, who was suspended for two games for an altercation with Matt Barnes in Phoenix on Wednesday.
McGrady hit three of four shots and scored nine points in the opening quarter.
The Rockets stretched the lead to 11 early in the second quarter as Paul rested on the bench. Paul returned with 5:22 left in the half, but Houston continued a 15-2 run and built a 48-31 cushion.
Morris Peterson sank a 3-pointer from the corner with 55 seconds left, the Hornets' first field goal in seven minutes.
Paul went 0-for-5 in the first half, but also had five assists.
11/16/2008 1:21 AM By CHRIS DUNCAN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON
New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul, center, looks to pass the ball as Houston Rockets' Yao Ming, left, of China, and Aaron Brooks, lower right, defend during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, in Houston. The Rockets defeated the Hornets 91-82. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
ao Ming scored 21 points, Tracy McGrady added 18 points and nine rebounds, and the Houston Rockets bottled up Chris Paul in a 91-82 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday night.
