Yao gets 20 rebounds in Rockets' win
( 2003-12-07 13:55) (Agencies)
Yao Ming grabbed a
career-high 20 rebounds and scored 22 points, and five Rockets scored in double
figures in an 86-80 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.
 Yao, who has scored in double figures in all 19 of
Houston's games, recorded his 11th double-double of the season while surpassing
his previous career-high in rebounds by one.
Steve Francis contributed a season-high 11 assists, Maurice Taylor and
Cuttino Mobley each had 14 points, Kelvin Cato scored 13 and Jim Jackson 10 for
Houston.
Mehmet Okur led Detroit with a season-high 21 points off the bench, followed
by Richard Hamilton with 17, Chauncey Billups with 11 and Tayshaun Prince with
10.
Houston led by as many a 19 in the third period before Detroit pulled to
80-74 on a three-point play by Okur with 3:53 left. The Pistons never got any
closer.
Led by Cato and Jackson, Houston outscored Detroit 24-6 to take a 24-12 lead
with 2:07 left in the first period. Houston led 48-41 at the half, and the
Rockets built a 19-point lead in the third period, 66-47, after Yao had six
points in an 18-8 run.
Detroit pulled within 14 by the end of the third
quarter.
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