|
Yao helps Rockets beat T-wolves without T-Mac
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-08 14:07
MINNEAPOLIS - With Yao Ming emerging as an offensive force, the Houston
Rockets didn't need Tracy McGrady on Tuesday night.
Yao Ming looks to
pass to a teammate while under pressure from Minnesota Timberwolves
forwards Kevin Garnett, right, and Trenton Hassell, left, during the
fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Minneapolis, Tuesday, March 7,
2006. Yao had a game-high 30 points as the Rockets beat the Timberwolves
93-87. [AP] | Yao topped 20 points for the eighth
straight game, scoring 30 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to lead the Rockets to
a 93-87 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
With McGrady on the bench again with back problems, Yao dominated the paint
and Stromile Swift added 11 points and nine boards off the bench for Houston,
which used a 12-0 run to start the fourth quarter to get their third straight
victory.
"Without McGrady our record is pretty poor," Yao said of the Rockets' 2-13
mark without their star forward. "Before today we only had one. I really feel a
lot of pressure because my teammates look to me and my opponent focuses on me,
double team a lot, but we're here, there's no way back. we can only go forward
and we came out with the victory."
Kevin Garnett made only six of 17 shots, but scored 15 points and had 21
rebounds for the Timberwolves, who didn't score in the first six minutes of the
fourth quarter, missing their first 12 shots.
Garnett played the game with a heavy heart after former Minnesota Twins' star
Kirby Puckett — his friend and mentor — died on Monday. Garnett looked up —
figuratively, of course — to the 5-foot-8 ball of personality, perhaps the only
athlete in Minnesota to exceed K.G.'s popularity.
"It's been a rough 48 hours just for me personally," said Garnett, who
inscribed his shoes with "KP 34" in honor of Puckett.
Marcus Banks scored many of his 26 points with the game already decided, and
Mark Blount scored 12 of his 18 points in the first quarter before fouling out
for the Timberwolves.
"It was terrible. We gave the game away tonight," Ricky Davis said.
"Everybody has to take initiative and take it upon themselves to not lose leads
and stay on them. ... We just went back to our bad habit we've been having
trouble with — losing our focus."
|
