Yao and Rockets Beat Cavs

[February 08, 2008]  HOUSTON (AP) -- LeBron James did what he could to carry the Cleveland Cavaliers in Houston. The problem was, the Cavs are getting smaller by the game and couldn't hold their own on the boards.

Yao Ming had 22 points and 12 rebounds and Rafer Alston had 17 points and nine assists in the Rockets' 92-77 victory on Thursday night, their ninth win in 10 games.

James had 32 points and seven rebounds, but the Rockets outrebounded the Cavs 55-35. Cleveland sorely missed Drew Gooden, their second-leading rebounder, who sat out with a groin injury, the first game he's missed this season.

The Cavs also played their fifth game without Anderson Varejao, who's out with a sprained left ankle. Varejao and Gooden are both averaging 8.5 rebounds.

"When you play big teams, it's going to affect us," James said. "When you have 20 rebounds not here, it obviously hurts."

In other NBA games it was: Philadelphia 101, Miami 84 and Chicago 114, Golden State 108.

In Houston, the Rockets' rebounding edge compensated for a poor night for Tracy McGrady, who was sick all day with a respiratory infection, and scored eight points on 3-for-11 shooting.

Houston also won with defense, holding everyone but James to a dismal shooting night. James went 12-for-23. The rest of the team went 19-for-55.

"We didn't let a lot of other guys get going," Alston said. "He's a superstar, he's going to get his and he's going to be a factor in the game. As long as you eliminate the other guys, their role players, you should be OK out there."

Houston led by one after a sluggish first half, then outscored Cleveland 32-20 in the third quarter to take control.

The Rockets sank their first five shots of the quarter, three of them 3-pointers. McGrady hit a deep jumper and a 3-pointer from the wing on consecutive possessions to put Houston up 53-44.

Later, Shane Battier sank his second 3-pointer and Luis Scola broke free for a dunk to stretch the lead to 65-51. The Cavs missed 11 of their first 16 shots and got outrebounded 14-4 in the first 10 minutes after halftime.

"Second half, we just fired up," Yao said. "I was like, 'I hope we can stay like this the rest of the night.'"

Houston pushed the lead to 16 before James hit a 3-pointer over Battier in the final seconds of the third quarter to make it 72-59. James had three more baskets early in the fourth quarter during a 12-3 Cavs run that cut the deficit to seven.

Battier, Houston's best one-on-one defender, did what he could to limit the NBA's leading scorer. Battier was surprised he managed to score 15 points himself.

"LeBron was really, really good tonight, and took most of my focus," Battier said. "I think I forgot about my offense a little bit. That guy does that to you."

James sank two free throws with 3:22 left to pull Cleveland within six at 83-77, but Yao hit a turnaround jumper 20 seconds later. McGrady missed a 3-pointer on Houston's next possession, but Bonzi Wells rebounded and dunked to push the lead to 10.

The Cavs had won 11 of their previous 13 games.

76ers 101, Heat 84

At Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored 25, Andre Miller added 21 and Philadelphia gave short-handed Miami its sixth straight loss.

Willie Green finished with 14 points and Thaddeus Young 11 as the Sixers won for the fourth time in six games.

The Heat were playing their second game since center Shaquille O'Neal was dealt to the Phoenix Suns. The players they received for O'Neal -- Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks -- still have to pass physicals and are expected to debut for Miami on Saturday.

Dwyane Wade scored 19 points on 5-for-17 shooting, Jason Williams added 14 and Dorell Wright 16 for Miami, which is stuck on nine wins.

Bulls 114, Warriors 108

Chris Duhon scored a career-high 34 points, Joe Smith had 27 and undermanned Chicago spoiled Chris Webber's return to Golden State.

Duhon's 11-for-16 shooting, four 3-pointers and nine assists carried the Bulls as they somehow stayed in front of the well-rested Warriors.

The Bulls were playing their fourth road game in six nights without three of their top four scorers. Chicago used just eight players while injured Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich were sidelined.

Webber had four points and two assists in 12 minutes in his first game with the Warriors since the former No. 1 overall draft pick forced a trade after his rookie season more than 13 years ago.

Monta Ellis led Golden State with 25 points.

[Associated Press; By CHRIS DUNCAN]

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