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

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 77
HOUSTON 82 9:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 82
HOUSTON 86 6:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 82
HOUSTON 96 3:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 87
HOUSTON 100 1:02 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA MILWAUKEE 88
HOUSTON 104 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MILWAUKEE 25 16 29 18 88
HOUSTON 24 26 28 26 104 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: MIL - MICHAEL REDD 26, YI JIANLIAN 19, DESMOND
MASON 11
HOU - YAO MING 28, TRACY MCGRADY 21, BONZI
WELLS 18</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
MILWAUKEE 88
HOUSTON 104 FINAL</div>

 

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- There was a sellout crowd of 18,244 at theToyota Center, but this game was of far more interest on theother side of the world.


In a game that featured the first NBA matchup between playersfrom China, Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets beat Yi Jianlianand the Milwaukee Bucks, 104-88, on Friday.


After being the face of Chinese basketball in the league thepast five seasons, Yao has been joined by Yi, the sixth overallpick in June's draft. And neither disappointed an estimated 200million viewers back in their homeland.


The 27-year-old Yao, selected No. 1 overall by Houston fiveyears ago, came in averaging 21.2 points and 11.0 rebounds, andhe surpassed those numbers in this one. The 7-5 center had 28points, 10 rebounds and three blocks while converting all 12 ofhis free throws as Houston improved to 5-1.


Yi entered averaging 14 points and six rebounds in his last twogames after two shaky outings to start the season, but he toowas brilliant. The 7-0 perimeter player converted 7-of-11shots, including both of his 3-pointers, and added ninerebounds.


The two met near midcourt after the contest, hugged and shookhands.


Houston led throughout, but Yi knocked down a pull-up jumperfrom the left wing to pull Milwaukee within 82-79 with 8:15left. He knocked down a 3-pointer two minutes later to get theBucks within 84-82.


The Rockets, however, responded with an inside muscle move byBonzi Wells, a straightaway 3-pointer by Tracy McGrady and twomore baskets by Wells, who finished with a season-high 18 pointsand seven rebounds. Wells converted an acrobatic drive alongthe right baseline, then hit a jumper from the right corner thatestablished a 93-82 lead with four minutes left.


Houston had a 50-41 lead in a cold-shooting first half. TheRockets shot just 40 percent (18-of-45), but Yao scored 14points, McGrady added 10 and the defense held Milwaukee to just35 percent (17-of-49) in the opening 24 minutes.


Only 17 points by Michael Redd on 7-of-15 shooting kept theBucks afloat. His teammates sank just 10-of-34 shots in thehalf.


Redd finished with 26 points on 8-of-22 shooting.

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (88) AT HOUSTON (104)

MILWAUKEE

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

D MASON F 22:26 5-7 1-1 0 1 1 1 0 0 2 11
Y JIANLIAN F 34:21 7-11 3-4 2 7 9 0 0 2 2 19
A BOGUT C 29:03 3-11 4-6 3 2 5 0 4 1 1 10
M REDD G 43:08 8-22 10-10 2 5 7 4 4 1 0 26
M WILLIAMS G 44:42 5-13 0-0 0 9 9 9 1 0 3 10
D GADZURIC 10:15 0-1 0-0 2 1 3 1 2 0 1 0
C VILLANUEVA 13:53 3-8 2-3 0 2 2 0 4 0 0 9
B SIMMONS 7:01 0-2 0-0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0
C BELL 26:29 1-8 0-0 0 3 3 1 2 1 0 3
M RUFFIN 8:42 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 0 2 1 1 0

TOTALS 240:00 32-83 20-24 11 31 42 16 21 6 11 88
(.386) (.833) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 11 (0 PTS)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S BATTIER F 39:26 5-8 2-2 2 6 8 2 3 1 1 15
C HAYES F 22:31 3-4 0-0 2 2 4 1 1 1 0 6
Y MING C 39:08 7-16 14-14 6 4 10 3 2 0 2 28
T MCGRADY G 37:29 9-18 1-2 1 6 7 8 3 1 4 21
R ALSTON G 27:51 2-10 4-4 1 4 5 2 3 2 2 9
M JAMES 20:50 2-10 0-1 0 5 5 5 3 0 1 5
L SCOLA 9:22 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 3 0 0 2
B WELLS 28:06 7-13 3-3 2 5 7 1 1 1 1 18
L HEAD 15:17 0-2 0-0 0 2 2 1 0 1 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 36-83 24-26 14 35 49 24 19 7 11 104
(.434) (.923) TEAM REBS: 3 TOTAL TO: 12 (0 PTS)

MILWAUKEE 25 16 29 18 - 88
HOUSTON 24 26 28 26 - 104

BLOCKED SHOTS: MILWAUKEE - M RUFFIN, M REDD, Y JIANLIAN. HOUSTON -
Y MING 3, B WELLS 2, S BATTIER 2, T MCGRADY, C HAYES.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: MILWAUKEE 4-18 (.222), Y JIANLIAN 2-2, A BOGUT 0-
1, M REDD 0-7, M WILLIAMS 0-1, C VILLANUEVA 1-3, C BELL 1-4. HOUSTON 8-
26 (.308), S BATTIER 3-6, T MCGRADY 2-4, R ALSTON 1-6, M JAMES 1-6,
B WELLS 1-2, L HEAD 0-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: MILWAUKEE - DEFENSIVE THREE, M WILLIAMS.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BILL SPOONER, JASON PHILLIPS, TOM WASHINGTON.
A - 18,244. T - 2:09.</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (88)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Mason 22:26 5-7 1-1 0-1 1 0 11
Y Jianlian 34:21 7-11 3-4 2-9 0 0 19
A Bogut 29:03 3-11 4-6 3-5 0 4 10
M Redd 43:08 8-22 10-10 2-7 4 4 26
M Williams 44:42 5-13 0-0 0-9 9 1 10
D Gadzuric 10:15 0-1 0-0 2-3 1 2 0
C Villanueva 13:53 3-8 2-3 0-2 0 4 9
B Simmons 7:01 0-2 0-0 1-1 0 2 0
C Bell 26:29 1-8 0-0 0-3 1 2 3
M Ruffin 8:42 0-0 0-0 1-2 0 2 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 32-83 20-24 11-42 16 21 88
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.386, FT-.833. 3-Point Goals:
4-18, .222 (Y Jianlian 2-2, A Bogut 0-1, M
Redd 0-7, M Williams 0-1, C Villanueva 1-3, C
Bell 1-4). Team Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:3
(M Ruffin, M Redd, Y Jianlian). Turnovers:11
(M Williams 3, D Mason 2, Y Jianlian 2, M
Ruffin, A Bogut, B Simmons, D Gadzuric).
Steals: 6 (Y Jianlian 2, M Ruffin, M Redd, C
Bell, A Bogut).


HOUSTON (104)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Battier 39:26 5-8 2-2 2-8 2 3 15
C Hayes 22:31 3-4 0-0 2-4 1 1 6
Y Ming 39:08 7-16 14-14 6-10 3 2 28
T McGrady 37:29 9-18 1-2 1-7 8 3 21
R Alston 27:51 2-10 4-4 1-5 2 3 9
M James 20:50 2-10 0-1 0-5 5 3 5
L Scola 9:22 1-2 0-0 0-1 1 3 2
B Wells 28:06 7-13 3-3 2-7 1 1 18
L Head 15:17 0-2 0-0 0-2 1 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-83 24-26 14-49 24 19 104
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.434, FT-.923. 3-Point Goals:
8-26, .308 (S Battier 3-6, T McGrady 2-4, R
Alston 1-6, M James 1-6, B Wells 1-2, L Head
0-2). Team Rebounds: 3. Blocked Shots:9 (Y
Ming 3, B Wells 2, S Battier 2, T McGrady, C
Hayes). Turnovers:11 (T McGrady 4, R Alston
2, Y Ming 2, B Wells, S Battier, M James).
Steals: 7 (R Alston 2, T McGrady, S Battier,
L Head, C Hayes, B Wells).

-------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE 25 16 29 18 - 88
HOUSTON 24 26 28 26 - 104
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Milwaukee - 2 (Defensive
Three, 6:20 3rd; M Williams, 3:27 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,244. T: 2:09.
Officials: Bill Spooner, Jason Phillips, Tom
Washington.</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (88) AT HOUSTON (104)

MILWAUKEE

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

D MASON F 22:26 5-7 1-1 0 1 1 1 0 0 2 11
Y JIANLIAN F 34:21 7-12 3-4 2 7 9 0 0 2 2 19
A BOGUT C 29:03 3-11 4-6 3 2 5 0 4 1 1 10
M REDD G 43:08 8-22 10-10 2 5 7 4 4 1 0 26
M WILLIAMS G 44:42 5-13 0-0 0 9 9 9 1 0 3 10
D GADZURIC 10:15 0-1 0-0 2 1 3 1 2 0 1 0
C VILLANUEVA 13:53 3-8 2-3 0 2 2 0 4 0 0 9
B SIMMONS 7:01 0-2 0-0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0
C BELL 26:29 1-8 0-0 0 3 3 1 2 1 0 3
M RUFFIN 8:42 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 0 2 1 1 0
J VOSKUHL DNP - COACH'S DECISION
R IVEY DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 32-84 20-24 11 31 42 16 21 6 11 88
(.381) (.833) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 11 (12 PTS)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S BATTIER F 39:26 5-8 2-2 2 6 8 2 3 1 1 15
C HAYES F 22:31 3-4 0-0 2 2 4 1 1 1 0 6
Y MING C 39:08 7-16 14-14 6 4 10 3 2 0 2 28
T MCGRADY G 37:29 9-18 1-2 1 7 8 8 3 1 4 21
R ALSTON G 27:51 2-10 4-4 1 4 5 2 3 2 2 9
M JAMES 20:50 2-10 0-1 0 5 5 5 3 0 1 5
L SCOLA 9:22 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 3 0 0 2
B WELLS 28:06 7-13 3-3 2 5 7 1 1 1 1 18
L HEAD 15:17 0-2 0-0 0 2 2 1 0 1 0 0
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S FRANCIS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K SNYDER DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 36-83 24-26 14 36 50 24 19 7 11 104
(.434) (.923) TEAM REBS: 3 TOTAL TO: 12 (9 PTS)

MILWAUKEE 25 16 29 18 - 88
HOUSTON 24 26 28 26 - 104

BLOCKED SHOTS: MILWAUKEE - M RUFFIN, M REDD, Y JIANLIAN. HOUSTON -
Y MING 3, B WELLS 2, S BATTIER 2, T MCGRADY, C HAYES.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: MILWAUKEE 4-18 (.222), Y JIANLIAN 2-2, A BOGUT 0-
1, M REDD 0-7, M WILLIAMS 0-1, C VILLANUEVA 1-3, C BELL 1-4. HOUSTON 8-
26 (.308), S BATTIER 3-6, T MCGRADY 2-4, R ALSTON 1-6, M JAMES 1-6,
B WELLS 1-2, L HEAD 0-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: MILWAUKEE - DEFENSIVE THREE, M WILLIAMS.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BILL SPOONER, JASON PHILLIPS, TOM WASHINGTON.
A - 18,244. T - 2:08.</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (88)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Mason 22:26 5-7 1-1 0-1 1 0 11
Y Jianlian 34:21 7-12 3-4 2-9 0 0 19
A Bogut 29:03 3-11 4-6 3-5 0 4 10
M Redd 43:08 8-22 10-10 2-7 4 4 26
M Williams 44:42 5-13 0-0 0-9 9 1 10
D Gadzuric 10:15 0-1 0-0 2-3 1 2 0
C Villanueva 13:53 3-8 2-3 0-2 0 4 9
B Simmons 7:01 0-2 0-0 1-1 0 2 0
C Bell 26:29 1-8 0-0 0-3 1 2 3
M Ruffin 8:42 0-0 0-0 1-2 0 2 0
J Voskuhl DNP - COACH'S DECISION
R Ivey DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 32-84 20-24 11-42 16 21 88
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.381, FT-.833. 3-Point Goals:
4-18, .222 (Y Jianlian 2-2, A Bogut 0-1, M
Redd 0-7, M Williams 0-1, C Villanueva 1-3, C
Bell 1-4). Team Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:3
(M Ruffin, M Redd, Y Jianlian). Turnovers:11
(M Williams 3, D Mason 2, Y Jianlian 2, M
Ruffin, A Bogut, B Simmons, D Gadzuric).
Steals: 6 (Y Jianlian 2, M Ruffin, M Redd, C
Bell, A Bogut).


HOUSTON (104)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Battier 39:26 5-8 2-2 2-8 2 3 15
C Hayes 22:31 3-4 0-0 2-4 1 1 6
Y Ming 39:08 7-16 14-14 6-10 3 2 28
T McGrady 37:29 9-18 1-2 1-8 8 3 21
R Alston 27:51 2-10 4-4 1-5 2 3 9
M James 20:50 2-10 0-1 0-5 5 3 5
L Scola 9:22 1-2 0-0 0-1 1 3 2
B Wells 28:06 7-13 3-3 2-7 1 1 18
L Head 15:17 0-2 0-0 0-2 1 0 0
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Francis DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K Snyder DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-83 24-26 14-50 24 19 104
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.434, FT-.923. 3-Point Goals:
8-26, .308 (S Battier 3-6, T McGrady 2-4, R
Alston 1-6, M James 1-6, B Wells 1-2, L Head
0-2). Team Rebounds: 3. Blocked Shots:9 (Y
Ming 3, B Wells 2, S Battier 2, T McGrady, C
Hayes). Turnovers:11 (T McGrady 4, R Alston
2, Y Ming 2, B Wells, S Battier, M James).
Steals: 7 (R Alston 2, T McGrady, S Battier,
L Head, C Hayes, B Wells).

-------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE 25 16 29 18 - 88
HOUSTON 24 26 28 26 - 104
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Milwaukee - 2 (Defensive
Three, 6:21 3rd; M Williams, 3:27 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,244. T: 2:08.
Officials: Bill Spooner, Jason Phillips, Tom
Washington.</div>

 

NBA: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MILWAUKEE 25 16 29 18 88
HOUSTON 24 26 28 26 104 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: MIL - MICHAEL REDD 26, YI JIANLIAN 19, DESMOND
MASON 11
HOU - YAO MING 28, TRACY MCGRADY 21, BONZI
WELLS 18

HIGH REBOUND: MIL - MAURICE WILLIAMS 9, YI JIANLIAN 9,
MICHAEL REDD 7
HOU - YAO MING 10, TRACY MCGRADY 8, SHANE
BATTIER 8

HIGH ASSISTS: MIL - MAURICE WILLIAMS 9, MICHAEL REDD 4,
THREE PLAYERS WITH 1
HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 8, MIKE JAMES 5, YAO MING
3

ATT: 18,244</div>

 

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

Yi played great, but to much standing around on offense lead to stupid jumpshots from the rest of the team. You will never beat a good team with little to no movement.</p>

 

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- There was a sellout crowd of 18,244 at theToyota Center, but this game was of far more interest on theother side of the world.


In a game that featured the first NBA matchup between playersfrom China, Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets beat Yi Jianlianand the Milwaukee Bucks, 104-88, on Friday.


After being the face of Chinese basketball in the league thepast five seasons, Yao has been joined by Yi, the sixth overallpick in June's draft. And neither disappointed an estimated 200million viewers back in their homeland.


"I was concerned only about the game," Yi said through aninterpreter. "I wasn't thinking about anything outside thecourt."


"It wasn't Yi-vs.-Yao. It was the Rockets against the Bucks. Iwas concerned about the big game and sad about losing in theend."


The 27-year-old Yao, selected No. 1 overall by Houston fiveyears ago, came in averaging 21.2 points and 11.0 rebounds, andhe surpassed those numbers in this one. The 7-5 center had 28points, 10 rebounds and three blocks while converting all 12 ofhis free throws as Houston improved to 5-1.


Yi entered averaging 14 points and six rebounds in his last twogames after two shaky outings to start the season, but he toowas brilliant. The 7-0 perimeter player converted 7-of-11shots, including both of his 3-pointers, for a season-high 19points to go with nine rebounds.


The two met near midcourt after the contest, hugged and shookhands. Then minutes later, they sat side-by-side at a pressconference and fielded questions from more than 30 reporters,including at least 20 Chinese news people.


"It's sad to think," Yao said with a smile. "But he may bebetter than me before he's finished."


Yao was asked why he thought that. "Because I'm older," he saidlaughing. Yi scored only two points the first half but said hewasn't nervous nor thinking about the millions of viewerswatching from China.


The two have played on the Chinese national team and will playon it in the next Olympics.


"In my mind, the Olympics is one of the most important games,"Yi said. "But also this season with the Bucks is important as Iam struggling to improve my game."


Yao believes his countryman will only get better.


"The first time I saw him was in 2004 and I knew one day hewould be something," Yao said. "The first game I saw him thisyear he didn't play very well. But he showed he had talent.Each summer I have watched him in the national training camp andhe just gets better and better."


The Rockets also were impressed.


"Yi has a very good shot," Houston coach Rick Adelman said. "Ithink he's going to be very good. We said before the game hecouldn't shoot outside but he made two 3s. That's not going tobe a problem for him.


"I was surprised how athletic he was. As big as he is, once hegets the feeling of the NBA, he's going to be a very goodplayer."


Rockets superstar Tracy McGrady agreed.


"He was pretty good," McGrady said of Yi. "Obviously he has atremendous upside. He started off slow tonight. Maybe he had alittle bit of the jitters.


"But he's an athlete. For a guy to be 7-foot and withball-handling skills and moves like that really shows yousomething. He's a player and his basketball IQ is going togrow.


Houston led throughout, but Yi knocked down a pull-up jumperfrom the left wing to pull Milwaukee within 82-79 with 8:15left. He knocked down a 3-pointer two minutes later to get theBucks within 84-82.


"He started a little tight," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak saidof Yi. "Then he got going with reckless abandon. A lot ofpeople in China have a lot to be proud of with Yao and Yi. Ididn't know what to expect of him. But his ability tounderstand the game puts him way ahead of a lot of rookies inthis league."


The Rockets, however, responded with an inside muscle move byBonzi Wells, a straightaway 3-pointer by McGrady and two morebaskets by Wells, who finished with a season-high 18 points andseven rebounds. Wells converted an acrobatic drive along theright baseline, then hit a jumper from the right corner thatestablished a 93-82 lead with four minutes left.


Houston had a 50-41 lead in a cold-shooting first half. TheRockets shot just 40 percent (18-of-45), but Yao scored 14points, McGrady added 10 and the defense held Milwaukee to just35 percent (17-of-49) in the opening 24 minutes.


Only 17 points by Michael Redd on 7-of-15 shooting kept theBucks afloat. His teammates sank just 10-of-34 shots in thehalf.


Redd finished with 26 points on 8-of-22 shooting.

 

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- There was a sellout crowd of 18,244 at theToyota Center, but this game was of far more interest on theother side of the world.


In a game that featured the first NBA matchup between playersfrom China, Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets beat Yi Jianlianand the Milwaukee Bucks, 104-88, on Friday.


After being the face of Chinese basketball in the league thepast five seasons, Yao has been joined by Yi, the sixth overallpick in June's draft. And neither disappointed an estimated 200million viewers back in their homeland.


"I was concerned only about the game," Yi said through aninterpreter. "I wasn't thinking about anything outside thecourt."


"It wasn't Yi-vs.-Yao. It was the Rockets against the Bucks. Iwas concerned about the big game and sad about losing in theend."


The 27-year-old Yao, selected No. 1 overall by Houston fiveyears ago, came in averaging 21.2 points and 11.0 rebounds, andhe surpassed those numbers in this one. The 7-5 center had 28points, 10 rebounds and three blocks while converting all 14 ofhis free throws as Houston improved to 5-1.


Yi entered averaging 14 points and six rebounds in his last twogames after two shaky outings to start the season, but he toowas brilliant. The 7-0 perimeter player converted 7-of-11shots, including both of his 3-pointers, for a season-high 19points to go with nine rebounds.


The two met near midcourt after the contest, hugged and shookhands. Then minutes later, they sat side-by-side at a pressconference and fielded questions from more than 30 reporters,including at least 20 Chinese news people.


"It's sad to think," Yao said with a smile. "But he may bebetter than me before he's finished."


Yao was asked why he thought that. "Because I'm older," he saidlaughing. Yi scored only two points the first half but said hewasn't nervous nor thinking about the millions of viewerswatching from China.


The two have played on the Chinese national team and will playon it in the next Olympics.


"In my mind, the Olympics is one of the most important games,"Yi said. "But also this season with the Bucks is important as Iam struggling to improve my game."


Yao believes his countryman will only get better.


"The first time I saw him was in 2004 and I knew one day hewould be something," Yao said. "The first game I saw him thisyear he didn't play very well. But he showed he had talent.Each summer I have watched him in the national training camp andhe just gets better and better."


The Rockets also were impressed.


"Yi has a very good shot," Houston coach Rick Adelman said. "Ithink he's going to be very good. We said before the game hecouldn't shoot outside but he made two 3s. That's not going tobe a problem for him.


"I was surprised how athletic he was. As big as he is, once hegets the feeling of the NBA, he's going to be a very goodplayer."


Rockets superstar Tracy McGrady agreed.


"He was pretty good," McGrady said of Yi. "Obviously he has atremendous upside. He started off slow tonight. Maybe he had alittle bit of the jitters.


"But he's an athlete. For a guy to be 7-foot and withball-handling skills and moves like that really shows yousomething. He's a player and his basketball IQ is going togrow.


Houston led throughout, but Yi knocked down a pull-up jumperfrom the left wing to pull Milwaukee within 82-79 with 8:15left. He knocked down a 3-pointer two minutes later to get theBucks within 84-82.


"He started a little tight," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak saidof Yi. "Then he got going with reckless abandon. A lot ofpeople in China have a lot to be proud of with Yao and Yi. Ididn't know what to expect of him. But his ability tounderstand the game puts him way ahead of a lot of rookies inthis league."


The Rockets, however, responded with an inside muscle move byBonzi Wells, a straightaway 3-pointer by McGrady and two morebaskets by Wells, who finished with a season-high 18 points andseven rebounds. Wells converted an acrobatic drive along theright baseline, then hit a jumper from the right corner thatestablished a 93-82 lead with four minutes left.


Houston had a 50-41 lead in a cold-shooting first half. TheRockets shot just 40 percent (18-of-45), but Yao scored 14points, McGrady added 10 and the defense held Milwaukee to just35 percent (17-of-49) in the opening 24 minutes.


Only 17 points by Michael Redd on 7-of-15 shooting kept theBucks afloat. His teammates sank just 10-of-34 shots in thehalf.


Redd finished with 26 points on 8-of-22 shooting.