Yao helps Rockets beat T-wolves without T-Mac
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-08 14:07

The Rockets again were without McGrady, their leading scorer at 24.6 points a game, after his bothersome back flared up in Sunday's game against Portland.

McGrady scored 18 points in the win over the Blazers before leaving late in the third quarter. He was a game-time decision on Tuesday night, but Keith Bogans started in his place.

When McGrady goes to the bench, it's almost always bad news for the Rockets.

But Yao more than compensated, extending his career-best streak of 20-plus points in style. He was aggressive all night, using an impressive array of turnaround jumpers, bull rushes to the rim and soft hook shots.

"I know at least in the last five games, to me he's completely dominated," David Wesley said. "Numbers like 29 (points) and 15 (rebounds), 22 and 21, double-doubles every night — not just 15 and 10, we're talking big double-doubles. That's big. It gives us a major presence in the paint. ... He's carrying the load right now."

The undersized Wolves didn't have an answer. Blount got off to a fast start, but was overwhelmed down the stretch, as was Eddie Griffin and even Garnett.

"He's a handful for us down there wrestling with him," Wolves coach Dwane Casey said. "He's really played well and been a force."

Blount went right at Yao to start the game, scoring 12 points in the first quarter to help the Timberwolves to a 25-16 lead.

The Timberwolves made 12 of their first 19 shots, nearly all of them mid-range jumpers. But they hit a drought at the end of the first period, missing nine straight shots, a precursor of things to come.

After spending a chunk of the period on the bench with foul trouble, Yao returned to score six straight points for a 61-60 lead in the third period.

Rafer Alston added 17 points and five assists for Houston, which shot just 39 percent from the field, but made 47 percent of its 3-pointers (7-of-15) to overcome a six-point deficit to start the fourth.