GAME THREAD: NBA: MILWAUKEE (2-2) at HOUSTON (4-1)

NBA: MILWAUKEE (2-2) at HOUSTON (4-1)

<h3>Yao, Rockets welcome Yi, Bucks</h3>

<div class="pre">Milwaukee (2-2) at Houston (4-1) 8:30 pm EST</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- After being the face of Chinese basketballthe past five seasons, Yao Ming has been joined.


Yao and the Rockets face fellow countryman rookie Yi Jianlianand the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.


Yao, who was the third Chinese player to play in the NBA when hemade his debut on October 30, 2002, has become the best centerin the NBA. The 27-year-old, selected No. 1 overall by Houstonfive years ago, is averaging 21.2 points and 11.0 rebounds.

The 7-5, 310-pound big man has sparked the Rockets to four wins,including an 89-81 victory over the defending champion SanAntonio Spurs on Tuesday. In that game, Yao had 28 points, 13rebounds and six assists to deal the Spurs their first loss.

Now comes Yi - the sixth overall pick in June's draft, whosebeen up and down in his first four games. After the 7-0,238-pounder had a combined 11 points in his first two contests,Yi has averaged 14 points and six rebounds in his last twogames, both Bucks wins.


On Tuesday, he had 12 points, four rebounds and three assists inthe Bucks' 112-85 victory over the Toronto Raptors and for theseason, the youngster is scoring 9.8 points per game.

The Rockets have swept each of the last two season seriesagainst the Bucks and have won seven straight against Milwaukeehere.

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE VS HOUSTON - INACTIVES

MILWAUKEE HOUSTON

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
A STOREY COACH'S DECISION S NOVAK COACH'S DECISION
D NOEL COACH'S DECISION A BROOKS COACH'S DECISION
R SESSIONS COACH'S DECISION C LANDRY COACH'S DECISION</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE AT HOUSTON - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


MILWAUKEE HOUSTON

F Desmond Mason F Shane Battier
F Yi Jianlian F Chuck Hayes
C Andrew Bogut C Yao Ming
G Michael Redd G Tracy McGrady
G Maurice Williams G Rafer Alston

OFFICIALS: Tom Washington
Bill Spooner
Jason Phillips</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE AT HOUSTON - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


MILWAUKEE HOUSTON

F Desmond Mason F Shane Battier
F Yi Jianlian F Chuck Hayes
C Andrew Bogut C Yao Ming
G Michael Redd G Tracy McGrady
G Maurice Williams G Rafer Alston

OFFICIALS: Tom Washington
Bill Spooner
Jason Phillips</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 5
HOUSTON 9 8:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 12
HOUSTON 11 5:48 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 18
HOUSTON 16 2:50 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 25
HOUSTON 24 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MILWAUKEE 25 25
HOUSTON 24 24 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

MIL - DESMOND MASON 9, MICHAEL REDD 9, CHARLIE
VILLANUEVA 5
HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 10, CHUCK HAYES 4, YAO
MING 4</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 26
HOUSTON 34 9:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 32
HOUSTON 42 6:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 37
HOUSTON 48 2:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 41
HOUSTON 50 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MILWAUKEE 25 16 41
HOUSTON 24 26 50 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

MIL - MICHAEL REDD 17, DESMOND MASON 11,
CHARLIE VILLANUEVA 6
HOU - YAO MING 14, TRACY MCGRADY 10, BONZI
WELLS 9</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 47
HOUSTON 56 9:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 57
HOUSTON 66 6:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 62
HOUSTON 70 3:02 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 70
HOUSTON 78 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MILWAUKEE 25 16 29 70
HOUSTON 24 26 28 78 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

MIL - MICHAEL REDD 21, YI JIANLIAN 13, DESMOND
MASON 11
HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 18, YAO MING 17, BONZI
WELLS 12</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MILWAUKEE 25 16 29 70
HOUSTON 24 26 28 78 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

MIL - MICHAEL REDD 21, YI JIANLIAN 13, DESMOND
MASON 11
HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 18, YAO MING 17, BONZI
WELLS 12</div>