Yao helps Rockets soar to seventh consecutive win
Updated: 2008-02-12 16:47
HOUSTON - The Houston Rockets cruised to a 95-83 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, Chinese center Yao Ming leading the home team to a seventh consecutive triumph with a game-high 25 points.
Rafer Alston added 17 points and seven assists for the Rockets, who won for the 11th time in 12 games despite getting off to a sluggish start.
 Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (11) of China grabs a rebound in front of Portland Trail Blazers Joel Przybilla, right, during the first half of a basketball game Monday, Feb. 11, 2008 in Houston. [Agencies] |
"We didn't start out the game with a sense of urgency," Rockets coach Rick Adelman told reporters.
"There were a lot of shots I thought we could have gotten in the paint, but we weren't attacking them."
Alston and Tracy McGrady connected on just two of 10 shots in the first half, which ended with Portland just one point ahead after they failed to build on a 24-18 first quarter.
The Rockets turned things around in the third quarter, using a 13-point performance by Alston to take command.
"We've realised that we don't have much margin for error," Alston told reporters.
"So we're talking to each other when we're in the locker room at halftime, when we're walking back out onto the court."
LaMarcus Aldridge led the Trail Blazers with 22 points as Portland welcomed Brandon Roy back to the line-up after missing two games because of a death in his family.
Roy added 15 points and dished out eight assists but Portland were unable to hold off a rampant Rockets side.
* Larry Hughes scored 40 points and LeBron James added 29 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds to power the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 118-111 road win over the Orlando Magic.
* Kobe Bryant scored 31 points and Pau Gasol added 26 to help the Los Angeles Lakers register a 106-97 road win over the Charlotte Bobcats.
* Manu Ginobili had a season-best 34 points and a career-high 15 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 93-88 road win over the Toronto Raptors. Tim Duncan added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs.
Jose Calderon led the Raptors with a career-best 27 points. Toronto coach Sam Mitchell missed the game because of a death in his family.
* The Philadelphia 76ers won their fourth consecutive game, turning back the Dallas Mavericks 84-76 behind Andre Miller's 21 points.
Dallas guard-forward Jerry Stackhouse missed the game with a hamstring injury and Josh Howard left the contest in the fourth because of a back problem.
* Stephen Jackson scored a season-high 41 points and the Golden State Warriors rallied to beat the Washington Wizards 120-117.
Jackson had 16 points in the deciding quarter as the Warriors overcame a 95-84 third-quarter deficit.
Roger Mason had 32 points for Washington, who saw their losing streak stretch to eight games.
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