Chinese center Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets are learning the hard way of playing road games onback-to-back nights in the National Basketball Association.

Just a day after registering a thrilling 99-87 win in Los Angeles overtaking Lakers, the Rockets squandered a 16-point lead and lost to Denver 95-94 here Friday, the Nuggets taking their only lead of the game with eight seconds remaining.

Yao, who was in foul trouble much of the time in a solid showing against Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers, committed only two fouls against the Nuggets, contributing 12 points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes.

But Yao was critical of himself after the game, downplaying hisleadership role on a team that has not reached the playoffs since 1999.

"I'm not playing well enough yet to be a leader so I'm not in aposition to say at this point how I'll go about becoming one," Yaosaid.

A weary Yao sat with ice on his right knee, complaining that "it feels like something is stuck in there" and claiming that he was not tired entering his third game in four nights.

The Rockets are an enviable 5-3 in games played the night afteranother game, but have been stung for the second time in a week after a fiery start, having also lost at Phoenix 102-87 in the second game of a back-to-back run.

Houston led 94-92 before Cuttino Mobley fouled Voshon Lenard's 3-point attempt and the Denver guard made all three free throws togive the Nuggets the deciding points.

Yao's 7-foot-5 frame includes much more muscle thanks to workout sessions and some help from Anthony Falsone, the Rockets' strength and conditioning coach.

"Yao is much stonger this season," Falsone said. "Last year, heplayed at about 290 pounds. This season, he came to training camp at 304 and he had added some solid muscle.

Retired Rockets' star Calvin Murphy said Yao's unselfish play and dedication to improvement ensure he will take the Rockets far in their quest to regain the championship form they enjoyed in the1990s.

Murphy, now a television commentator, compared Yao to another former Rockets' great, Moses Malone, who leaped from high school into the NBA and like Murphy reached the Hall of Fame - a status Murphy can see for Yao someday.

"Malone came to us as a shy kid and he was a Hall of Fame center when he retired. Yao has got that kind of potential," Murphy said. "In time, he will be up to 11 or twelve rebounds a night, once his game comes completely together."

Close

Today's Top News		Top Sports News
+Top 10 domestic news stories in 2003 ( 2003-12-29) +No SARS symptoms for 42 contact cases ( 2003-12-29) +Death toll from gas blowout jumps to 233 ( 2003-12-29) +China's stature growing in Asia ( 2003-12-29) +Meat from infected cow went to 8 US states ( 2003-12-29)		+Yao, Rockets need to learn playing tight road games ( 2003-12-29) +Chinese military football team disbanded ( 2003-12-29) +United go four points clear, Chelsea win ( 2003-12-29) +Celtic crush Hibernian to go 11 points clear ( 2003-12-28) +FA boss Palios sees positives in Ferdinand drugs case ( 2003-12-28)