Yao Ming Shines as Rockets Beat Lakers 93-89

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, November 18, 2002

Yao Ming Shines as Rockets Beat Lakers 93-89

The Houston Rockets have been patiently waiting for Yao Ming to display the talents of a first overall draft choice. Yao shot 9-for-9 in scoring a career-high 20 points in 23 minutes, and also had six rebounds Sunday to help the Rockets beat the Lakers 93-89.

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Yao Shines as Rockets Beats Lakers 93-89

The Houston Rockets have been patiently waiting for Yao Ming to display the talents of a first overall draft choice.

The 2.23-meter (7-foot-6) Chinese import did just that in the eighth game of his career --- and against the three-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, no less.

Yao shot 9-for-9 in scoring a career-high 20 points in 23 minutes, and also had six rebounds Sunday to help the Rockets beat the Lakers 93-89.

Steve Francis scored 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and Maurice Taylor had nine of his 12 in the final period for the Rockets (5-3), who snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Lakers.

"He added to his highlight reel tonight," Lakers forward Rick Fox said of Yao. "He's been much-maligned as a No. 1 draft pick. You can't teach 7-6. This is an individual who can clearly play the game, he's no circus act. He's going to have more and more nights like this.

"He can speak clear English, too, which surprised me. I heard him talking to his teammates."

The loss was the fifth in six games for the three-time defending NBA champion Lakers (3-7), again playing without Shaquille O'Neal �� a development which no doubt worked to Yao's advantage.

"I guess it's luck," Yao said through an interpreter when asked about making every shot he took �� nine field goals and two free throws. "For me, it's definitely a breakthrough."

Yao made six baskets in the second quarter and three baskets and a pair of free throws to complete three-point plays in the final period.

The 22-year-old rookie's previous high was 10 points.

"The big kid was really good tonight, he was the difference in this game," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

"He was a presence in there for us," Taylor said. "They didn't have their big guy, we had ours."

Yao, who played one minute in the first period, 10 in the second and the entire fourth quarter, said he was motivated by the championship banners hanging in Staples Center.

"It's one of the more important reasons why I was excited to be on the court," he said. "I know the Lakers have a lot of great centers in the past and have won a lot of championships."

O'Neal, recovering from offseason surgery on his arthritic right big toe, again said he hopes to play his first game of the season Friday night against the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center.

Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 46 points in a losing cause, but missed a wide-open shot with about 10 seconds left that could have given the Lakers the lead.

Derek Fisher added a season-high 17 points for the Lakers.

Bryant scored five straight points to cut Houston's lead to 87-86 with 1:46 remaining.

Yao made a three-point play with a minute remaining before Fisher's three-pointer with 44.4 seconds to go made it a one-point game again.

The Lakers got the ball back when the Rockets failed to get a shot off in 24 seconds, but Bryant missed a driving scoop shot that could have given his team the lead.

The Rockets led by as many as eight points before the Lakers battled back into contention. Bryant scored 14 points in the final 7 1/2 minutes, but it wasn't enough.

Bryant, who shot 18-of-37, scored 16 of his team's 24 points in the second quarter to help the Lakers take a 43-42 halftime lead.

Source: agencies

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