Yao Keys Rockets Comeback Burn Blazers 95-83

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main

The Houston Rockets are not a team with a lot of?”sizzle.” Phoenix, Dallas, the Lakers, Boston, maybe even Denver, those teams have “sizzle.” They are?not a team that is a pleasant surprise, like New Orleans, Portland, or Orlando. Their starting point guard may have been “Skip-To-My-Lou” on the playgrounds, but in the Association, Rafer Alston is at best an average point guard. But what do they have is arguably one of the three best “Pure” centers in the NBA, and a pretty darn good shooting guard.? The center Yao Ming led all five Houston starters in double figures with 25 points, as the Rockets flew past the Portland Trail Blazers 95-83 Monday.

The Blazers took the early lead as they had a 24-18 edge at the end of the first quarter. Houston went into the half however with a razor thin advantage leading 44-43. The Rockets started to surge ahead in the third quarter, as they never trailed in the period, and went into the final 12 minutes of play up? 69-62. Houston scored the first 8 points of the fourth quarter, as they went ahead 77-62. Portland could never mount a challenge after that, and Houston went on for the easy win.

Yao shot 7-11 from the floor, 11-13 from the line for his game high 25 points, he also?had 7 rebounds in the win. Alston had a good night scoring 17? points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, Tracy McGrady scored 12 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block. Luis Scola scored 11 points, grabbed 7 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, Shane Battier scored 11 as well,? 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block.

LaMarcus Aldridge paced Portland as he shot 10-26 from the floor, 2-2 from the line for 22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 assists, 1 steal. Brandon Roy scored 15 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block, ?Martell Webster scored 11 points, grabbed 6 blocks in the loss. Houston has won seven straight games, and now have a record of 31-20, Portland is 28-23.

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