Kings Handle Yao and Beat Rockets

Even though Yao Ming gives the Houston Rockets a much bigger presence in the middle, they still have no answer for the Sacramento Kings.

Gerald Wallace scored 21 points and had eight rebounds as the Kings extended their winning streak against Houston to nine games with a 103-84 victory Sunday night at Sacramento.

It was Sacramento’s first look at the heralded 7-foot-5 rookie center from China. Chris Webber and Vlade Divac took turns challenging Yao through the first three quarters.

It was an education for Yao, who scored all eight of his points in the first quarter. He added five rebounds and two blocked shots in 23 minutes.

“He’s a rookie, you just go at him,” said Webber, who scored 16 of his 19 points in the first half. “You try to attack him like anyone else. He’s talented, but I don’t care who you are, you have to get adapted to this league.”

Bobby Jackson again filled in admirably for injured point guard Mike Bibby, who is scheduled to have his right foot examined today.

Jackson scored 20 points for the Kings, who improved to 9-0 at home this season. Sacramento has won eight of nine overall.

Seattle 96, New Jersey 95 -- Brent Barry made a three-point shot with 3.3 seconds left at Seattle and the SuperSonics ended a three-game losing streak.

Seattle had lost six of seven and was coming off arguably its worst effort of the season in an 83-72 loss to Houston on Friday.

Richard Jefferson could have clinched the victory for New Jersey, but he missed two foul shots after Desmond Mason pulled the SuperSonics to 95-93 with a jumper with 10.5 seconds left.

After Jefferson missed, the rebound went to Vladimir Radmanovic. He passed to Mason, who found Barry wide open on the right wing for the three-pointer.

The Nets had one more chance to win, but Jason Kidd’s driving shot was blocked by Mason just before the buzzer. New Jersey Coach Byron Scott was angry there was no foul called.

Kidd had 27 points to go with eight rebounds and eight assists for the Nets, who had two starters sidelined by injuries in Dikembe Mutombo and Kerry Kittles.

Lucious Harris, making his first start in two years, scored 23 points. Jefferson had 14.

Boston 95, New Orleans 86 -- The Hornets aren’t used to playing without Baron Davis, and it showed as Paul Pierce scored 30 points and Antoine Walker added 26 to lead the Celtics at Boston.

Davis, the Hornets’ second-leading scorer, sat out because of back pain, ending his consecutive games streak at 248.

Without him, New Orleans committed 24 turnovers and allowed Boston to make 10 steals. It was the first time Davis has missed a game in his four-year career.

Toronto 92, Memphis 87 -- Alvin Williams scored four points in the final 40 seconds to lead the short-handed Raptors at Memphis, Tenn.

Williams’ basket with 38.3 seconds to play gave the Raptors an 88-87 lead. He added two free throws with 15.5 seconds left as Toronto outscored the Grizzlies, 8-0, down the stretch.

Vince Carter, who clinched the victory with a breakaway dunk with two seconds left, led Toronto with 27 points. The Raptors, who got Carter back three games ago from a strained quadriceps, dressed only nine players.

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The Kings signed guard Jim Jackson and put forward Hedo Turkoglu, who has a sprained wrist, on the injured list.

Jackson joined his ninth NBA team in 11 seasons. He had been out of the league since spending last season with Miami.