NBA – Yao and Rockets claim Houston record 10th road triumph on trot

NEW ORLEANS (NBA) – Blast off! The Houston Rockets are officially the hottest team after rolling to an 11th straight triumph on Friday.

Yao Ming, the China national team center, had 28 points and 14 rebounds as the Rockets blew away Western Conference juggernauts New Orleans 100-80 in their own arena.

The win was a 10th consecutive on the road as well, a franchise record.

"It means a lot to us that we can beat this team on the road and keep the winning streak," Yao said on the club’s official website.

"Hey, we made history, right?"

Indeed they did.

Tracy McGrady led Houston in scoring with 34 points and rookie Luis Scola, the team’s Argentina international, had nine rebounds to go with his eight points.

Houston have improved to 35-20 while New Orleans are 37-16.

In other games on Friday, the Toronto Raptors last 103-99 at New York, Washington slipped up at Cleveland 90-89 and Detroit thumped the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 127-100.

The Bulls were 135-121 winners over Denver in Chicago, Memphis crashed to a 98-83 home defeat to Memphis and Phoenix defeated the Boston Celtics in the desert, 85-77.

The Los Angeles Clippers claimed a surprise 114-104 win over the Utah Jazz, Atlanta also stunned Golden State 117-110 in Oakland and Seattle upset the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 99-87.

Sacramento scraped a 116-115 road win in Charlotte, Orlando worked their magic against Philadelphia, beating the Sixers 115-99 and Indiana prevailed 113-103 at home against New Jersey.

FIBA