Yao's Rockets beat Yi's Nets

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey: While Yao Ming won the showdown with fellow Chinese Olympian Yi Jianlian, the smallest player on the court stole the show from the 7-footers.

Yao had 24 points and 16 rebounds and Aaron Brooks tied his career-high with 22 points as the Houston Rockets won their season-high fourth straight game with a 114-91 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Monday night in a game that was televised live to China.

With Yao clogging the lane, the Rockets limited the Nets to a season-low 13 points in the first quarter in taking a 29-13 lead. Houston shot 58 percent for the game, including 9-of-19 from 3-point range.