Yao fuels Rockets to win in season opener

Source: Agencies  |   2008-10-30  |     ONLINE EDITION

YAO Ming scored 21 points and added 10 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 82-71 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in their season opener last night at home.

Ron Artest added 16 points in his debut and the Rockets overcame poor shooting to beat the Grizzlies.

Luis Scola had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who were 28-for-76 (36.8 percent) from the field. They also went 5-for-16 from 3-point range and were outrebounded 49-44.

Rudy Gay scored 20 and Darrell Arthur had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who've lost all eight season openers since moving to Memphis in 2001.


Knicks 120, Heat 115


Jamal Crawford scored 29 points, Zach Randolph added 20, and the Knicks beat the Miami Heat 120-115 on Wednesday night to win their first game under Mike D'Antoni.

Wilson Chandler had 17 points and nine rebounds and New York, relying just as much on solid defense as D'Antoni's uptempo offense, seized control late in the second quarter. They opened a 23-point lead in the third, then held on after the Heat got within three points in the final minute.

Dwyane Wade had 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in his return to regular-season action for the Heat and rookie Michael Beasley, the No. 2 pick in the draft, had only nine points on 4-of-14 shooting for the Heat.


Bucks 98, Thunder 87

At Oklahoma City, Michael Redd, Richard Jefferson and Charlie Villanueva each scored 20 points and the Milwaukee Bucks spoiled the Thunder's debut with a 98-87 win.

Playing their opener after moving from Seattle in the offseason, the Thunder made it interesting by cutting a 24-point deficit to 11 in the fourth quarter.

The late rally gave a sellout crowd of 19,136 something to cheer about after a miserable start by the Thunder.

Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant was held scoreless in the first half, finishing with 12 points on 5-for-14 shooting.

Nets 95, Wizards 85