Rockets Blast by Suns 102-96

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, January 16, 2003

Rockets Blast by Suns 102-96

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Cuttino Mobley scored a season-high 30 points and Steve Francis added 19 before being ejected as the Houston Rockets tuned up for the first Yao-Shaq meeting by defeating the Phoenix Suns 102-96 Wednesday night.

Yao Ming went up against one of the league's other top rookies, Amare Stoudemire, and was outplayed.

Stoudemire had 24 points and 13 rebounds, including a pair of highlight-reel dunks over the 7-foot-6 center from China, while Yao looked timid at times and finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Yao will face Shaquille O'Nea for the first time Friday night when the Rockets play the Lakers.

Stephon Marbury scored 32 points when not engaging in trash talk, and Shawn Marion added 25 for Phoenix.

Francis and Randy Brown were ejected with 42.8 seconds left after a pair of double technicals were called on them for jawing at each other following a foul on Brown. Mobley went to the line and made both shots to reach his season-high and give Houston a 96-87 lead.

The Suns then began fouling and were able to pull to 99-96 before James Posey hit the second of two free throws for a four-point lead with 13.2 seconds left. Stoudemire then turned the ball over while being defended by Yao, ending Phoenix's last chance.

Posey had 12 points and 11 rebounds as all five Houston starters scored in double figures. Eddie Griffin scored 10.

Marbury turned to the Houston bench and yelled, "I'm a real All-Star. I don't have to get voted on" during the first quarter as the Suns led by as many as eight. Rockets fans taunted Marbury the rest of the night, yelling, "C'mon All-Star," at him.

Marbury and Francis also exchanged some quieter barbs during the second quarter, but those could not be overheard.

Most of the best sequences involving Stoudemire and Yao came during the first quarter. Stoudemire rejected an inside attempt by Yao, and Yao was tentative for the rest of the quarter.

Isolated on the low block against Jake Voskuhl shortly after Stoudemire's rejection, Yao put up a weak attempt with his left hand that rolled off the back rim. Yao missed his final five shots of the quarter.

Phoenix led 30-22 after one quarter but then shot just 3-for-24 in the second to allow Houston to take the lead for good.

Griffin hit a pull-up jumper and Yao converted a fast-break layup for a 54-46 lead midway through the third, and the Rockets had a 70-63 edge heading into the fourth.

Source: agencies

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