Yao Ming had a season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds to help Houston beat New York 86-71 on Wednesday night, handing Lenny Wilkens his first loss as coach of the Knicks.

New York Knicks center Dikembe Motombo (R) pressures Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (L) during the third period of their NBA game at the Toyota Center in Houston, January 21, 2004. [Reuters]

Wilkens won his first three games after replacing Don Chaney on Jan. 15, and the Knicks had won four straight overall.

Yao, whose career high is 30 points, was 12-for-15 from the floor, mostly on short to mid-range jump shots.

After trailing 20-8 late in the first quarter, the Rockets outscored the Knicks 39-15 to take a 47-35 lead at the half. Maurice Taylor had nine points in the second quarter and finished with 21.

The Knicks scored only nine points in the second quarter — a season low for a Houston opponent — and didn't get a basket in the period until Dikembe Mutombo's scored with 5:33 left.

The Rockets humbled the Knicks 111-79 on Jan. 8 in Madison Square Garden, jumping out to a 23-2 lead. Stephon Marbury was playing in his second game with the Knicks.

This time, the Knicks got the early jump, bursting to a 20-8 lead. Houston hit only four of its first 18 shots and was 5-for-19 in the opening period, while the Knicks hit 46 percent.

With Houston down 26-16 at the start of the second quarter, Taylor scored nine points in a four-minute span, including a layup with 8:57 to go that gave Houston its first lead, 27-26.

Yao returned after sitting out much of the first quarter with two fouls and contributed six points down the stretch to halftime.

Allan Houston and Anfernee Hardaway each had 12 points to lead the Knicks, and Keith Van Horn added 11.

Notes:@ The Knicks signed center Bruno Sundov to a 10-day contract and placed forward Michael Sweetney on the injured list because of patella tendinitis. ... . Knicks guard Moochie Norris returned to Houston for the first time since the Rockets traded him. "It's like playing against your brother," Rockets guard Steve Francis said. ... The Rockets are 10-3 and have won eight in a row when Yao scores 20 or more points.

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