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Yao's 29 points, 15 rebounds help Rockets to win
(AP )
Updated: 2006-02-23 15:50
HOUSTON - Yao Ming's amazing form goes on as he scored 29
points with 15 rebounds to lead Rockets defeating Clippers 106-102 on
Wednesday night.
Yao Ming of the
Houston Rockets poses before the Western Conference practice for the NBA
All-Star game in Houston February 18, 2006. The All-Star game will be held
February 19. [Reuters] | This is Yao Ming's best
outing since he missed 21 games with a toe injury.
"Yao has been playing out of his mind lately," McGrady said. "Since the guy's
been back, he's been extremely aggressive. He's playing with a great deal of
confidence."
McGrady, who averaged just 15 points in his last three games, followed up his
36-point performance in the All-Star game with 26 points.
As for what was bothering him, he still wouldn't say. But insists it's in the
past.
"That's over with," he said. "It's time to move on. We're not even mentioning
that. I'm not going to talk about it."
Houston is 17-8 with both Yao and McGrady in the lineup.
Houston led by as many as 16, but let the Clippers chip away at the lead and
make it a close game for much of the second half.
The Rockets led 103-92 with less than three minutes remaining, but the
Clippers scored seven straight points, led by a 3-pointer by Cuttino Mobley to
cut the lead to four.
Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy wasn't too happy with Houston's late game
letdown.
"Our basketball IQ at the end of the game, up 11, could have been a lot
better," he said.
Juwan Howard hit two free throws with 20.7 seconds left to extend the lead,
but Mobley struck again with another 3 to make it 105-102.
Houston, which struggled early this season, has come on as of late to win
eight of its last 10 games.
The loss extends the Clippers' season-high losing streak to five games and
they have lost 11 of their last 12 against Houston.
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