Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 22, 2002
Yao Scores Season-high Points, Mavericks Streak Continues
Not even Yao Ming could stop the Dallas Mavericks. Michael Finley scored 28 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 24 as the Mavericks overcame a stellar performance by the 7-5 rookie and remained unbeaten with a 103-90 triumph over the Houston Rockets.
Not even Yao Ming could stop the Dallas Mavericks. Michael Finley scored 28 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 24 as the Mavericks overcame a stellar performance by the 7-5 rookie and remained unbeaten with a 103-90 triumph over the Houston Rockets.
The Mavs set a franchise record with their 12th straight win and moved within three victories of tying the NBA mark for best start, was set by the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and matched by the 1993-94 Rockets.
Yao was dominant in 33 minutes off the bench, scoring a season-high 30 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. He shot 10-of-12 from the field and the line and has made 31 of his last 35 shots (89 percent).
Often matched up with 7-6 center Shawn Bradley, Yao's aggressiveness and head fakes landed the slightly taller player in foul trouble, and Bradley finished with no points and five fouls in 20 minutes.
Eduardo Najera took over for Bradley down the stretch and held the No. 1 overall draft pick scoreless in the fourth quarter. Najera finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds and gave the Mavs their biggest lead, 101-84, on a reverse layup around Yao with 2:29 left.
Dallas took the lead for good, 64-62, on a jumper by Adrian Griffin with 6:53 to play in the third quater that sparked a 11-0 run. Nowitzki capped the burst with a 3-pointer from the right corner with 4:24 to go in the period.