Rockets bounce back to overwhelm Spurs

HOUSTON -- A night after losing at Dallas, Yao Ming had 28 points and 13 rebounds to help the Houston Rockets end a four-game, home-court losing streak to San Antonio with an 89-81 victory over the Spurs on Tuesday night.

Yao scored seven points and grabbed two rebounds in the final quarter. He even flipped in two shots over Tim Duncan, then made two free throws in the final 2:37 to keep the Rockets in control.

“Every year, Yao is getting better,” said Duncan. “The Rockets showed their confidence in him, when they go through him at the end of the game like they did tonight. He made some big shots and was tough to stop.”

Yao made 12 of 24 shots and also had six assists, his most complete game under new Coach Rick Adelman.

Bonzi Wells added 14 points and 15 rebounds for Houston, which controlled Duncan and outrebounded the Spurs, 55-28. Duncan scored 14 and grabbed 10 rebounds but went only five of 15 from the field. The Rockets had a 25-4 edge in offensive rebounds and took 17 more shots than the Spurs.

“That’s about how hungry we were to win the game,” Yao said.

Tracy McGrady struggled with his shooting too, making four of 14 shots and scoring only 12 points. McGrady, however, had nine rebounds and six of the Rockets’ season-high 25 assists.