Yao's 17th double delight tames timid Timberwolves

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 19, 2004

Yao's 17th double delight tames timid Timberwolves

Centre Yao Ming scored 22 points and hauled down 15 rebounds for Houston on Saturday as the Rockets shot down the high-flying Minnesota Timberwolves 95-76 in the National Basketball Association.

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Centre Yao Ming scored 22 points and hauled down 15 rebounds for Houston on Saturday as the Rockets shot down the high-flying Minnesota Timberwolves 95-76 in the National Basketball Association.

Yao has recorded a personal NBA first by picking up at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in three straight games. The Chinese centre also posted his 17th double-double of the season.

"He (Yao) can score in a number of ways," Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy told reporters. "He had a bit of a lull there for four or five games, but recently he's really played well."

Minnesota managed just 26 points in the first half to see their five-game winning streak snapped.

The Timberwolves had won 18 of their previous 21 games and were coming off road victories over New Orleans and San Antonio. The latter win vaulted them past the Spurs and into first place in the Midwest Division.

But on Saturday Minnesota started badly and got worse. They trailed by 10 points after one quarter, 19 at halftime and 30 late in the third period.

Steve Francis added 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and Maurice Taylor scored 16 points off the bench for the Rockets, who have won three in a row and seven of nine.

Cassell scored 25 points and Kevin Garnett added 19 for the Wolves.

In East Rutherford, Jermaine O'Neal notched 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Indiana Pacers beat the New Jersey Nets 90-84.

Al Harrington added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers, who held the Nets to 29 points in the second half to win a showdown of division leaders.

Ron Artest contributed 18 points for the Pacers, who have beaten the San Antonio Spurs and the Nets on consecutive nights, the two teams that met for the NBA title last season.

Jason Kidd had 21 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds for the Nets, who had a meagre haul of 10 points in the final quarter. Kenyon Martin added 17 points for New Jersey.

In Portland, Michael Finley piled up 33 points and Dirk Nowitzki 32 as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Trail Blazers 108-104.

Ruben Patterson topped Portland with 24 points.

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