NBA – Yao, Artest lead Rockets past Dirk’s Mavericks
HOUSTON (NBA) – Yao Ming and Ron Artest gave Houston a mean one-two punch on Thursday in the Rockets 112-102 win at the Dallas Mavericks. China national team center Yao made 10 of 11 free throws and finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds while Artest poured in 29 on 10 of 22 shooting from the floor, including three of four from long range. Dirk ...
HOUSTON (NBA) – Yao Ming and Ron Artest gave Houston a mean one-two punch on Thursday in the Rockets 112-102 win at the Dallas Mavericks.
China national team center Yao made 10 of 11 free throws and finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds while Artest poured in 29 on 10 of 22 shooting from the floor, including three of four from long range.
Dirk Nowitzki of Germany scored 36 points and Josh Howard had 28 with 11 rebounds for Dallas in their season-opener.
Team USA point guard Chris Paul scored 20 points, dished out 10 assists and pulled down eight rebounds as the New Orleans Hornets defeated the Phoenix Suns 108-95.
LeBron James almost had a triple double but finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to lead Cleveland past Charlotte, 96-79.
On Wednesday evening, Team USA assistant coach Mike D’Antoni tasted victory in his first regular-season game as the boss of the New York Knicks.
New York overcame 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds by Miami’s Team USA star Dwyane Wade and defeated the Heat 120-115.
Jamal Crawford poured in a game-high 29 for the Knicks.
The new-look Toronto Raptors began their campaign with a 95-84 triumph over Philadelphia.
Fresh off his Olympic gold-medal win with the United States, Chris Bosh poured in 27 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for Toronto, with Spain’s Jose Calderon scoring 13 and handing out seven assists.
Joe Johnson poured in 25 points to lead Atlanta to a 99-85 triumph over Orlando.
Yi Jianlian of China also had a great season-opener with New Jersey by scoring 17 points, grabbing six boards and swatting two shots in their 95-85 win over Washington.
Marc Gasol had a double-double on his opening night – the best-ever debut by a Spaniard in the NBA.
The former Akasvayu Girona star, the ACB’s MVP last season, had 12 points and 12 rebounds but Memphis lost 82-71 in Houston.
The Rockets got 12 points and 13 rebounds from Argentina star Luis Scola.
In other games on Wednesday, Detroit won 100-93 over Indiana, Minnesota edged Sacramento 98-96, Milwaukee beat Oklahoma City 98-87, Phoenix overcome San Antonio 103-98, Utah defeated Denver 98-94, New Orleans nipped Golden State 108-103 and the Lakers prevailed in the battle of Los Angeles over the Clippers, 117-79.
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