HOUSTON - The Houston Rockets put together one of their best performances of
the season, too late to matter for a team out of playoff contention.
Yao Ming had 29 points and 10 rebounds, and the Rockets routed the Seattle
SuperSonics 115-87 on Wednesday night.
Stromile Swift and newly acquired Richie Frahm had 16 points apiece for the
Rockets, who shot 52 percent (42-of-81) and outrebounded Seattle 46-32 to snap a
five-game home losing streak. Frahm, a second-year guard, was claimed off
waivers on March 20 and went 4-for-8 from 3-point range.
Yao also matched a career high with three steals.
"We were really guarding people," said Yao, who also blocked a shot. "Our
individual defense and our team defense were the difference. We did that well
from the start of the game."
The Rockets coupled their smothering defense with good shooting and started
the blowout immediately. They scored the first nine points, led 18-4 and built a
29-10 lead by the end of the first quarter.
"I think this inspires us to go out there and finish up strong and really not
give it up," Swift said.
The Sonics, meanwhile, looked exhausted the night after a 98-97 win in
Memphis. They missed 18 of their first 21 shots, and their 10 points in the
first quarter was a low for any period this season. It was also a low for a
Houston opponent in a first quarter this season.
"Last night was as good a win as we've had," said Seattle coach Bob Hill,
"but tonight we just weren't there."
Leading scorer Ray Allen missed his first nine shots and was 1-for-12 at
halftime. He finished 1-for-13 and had 10 points.
"They jumped out on us and we really didn't adjust to anything," Allen said.
"Offensively, we didn't have anything going and that seemed to feed them
offensively."
Earl Watson scored 20 to lead Seattle, which had won six of its previous 10.
But the Sonics were never in this one and before it was over, Hill told his team
to treat it like a practice.
"We decided, there at the end, to just use it to work on some things," Hill
said. "So we got some good out of it."
The Rockets led 64-32 at the break, their highest-scoring first half of the
season. The Sonics matched a season low in a first half after going 9-for-40.
Houston was even getting the bounces, a rarity in its disappointing season.
Early in the second quarter, Swift threw up a hook shot from the baseline that
caromed off the top of the backboard and plopped straight down into the basket.
"It was one of those nights," Swift said after the game with a sheepish grin.
The Rockets shot 63 percent in the opening half (24-of-38). They also had
balance — Yao had only 12 at halftime and five of his teammates had at least
eight points.
Seattle nearly doubled its field goals in the third quarter, going 8-for-18
and scoring 30 points. Yao kept the Rockets in command, scoring 17 points in the
quarter. He sat out the fourth quarter as Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy let
mostly reserves play.
"We may not have as much firepower as some teams," Van Gundy said, "but our
team, for the most part, comes ready to play, ready to practice."
The Rockets had 100 points with nearly 9 minutes remaining and finished with
their highest point total at the Toyota Center all season.
"You always envision a night like that, where you come out and hit on all
cylinders," said Houston guard Rafer Alston, who had 10 points and eight
assists.
Despite the second-half improvement, Seattle shot 24-of-71 (34 percent), its
third-worst percentage of the season.
"We were just blown out," Watson said. "They controlled the game from the
start and all the way through."