Yao Ming scored 29 points and had nine rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets (news) to a 102-79 victory over the Denver Nuggets (news) in a preseason game Wednesday night.

Playing just 28 minutes, Yao shot 11-of-14 from the field and 7-of-9 from the free throw line as the Rockets won their third straight. Steve Francis added 15 points and Cuttino Mobley, back after missing a game with a left hip strain, added 14.

Anthony Miller led the Nuggets with 17 points.

Yao missed the first two preseason games playing for the Chinese national team. In the five games since, he has averaged 20.2 points and 9.1 rebounds, both team highs.

Midway through the third quarter, Yao scored six points on a 12-0 run that gave the Rockets a 62-46 lead, their biggest of the night. He had 12 in the quarter as Houston ended with a 76-59 lead.

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