Yao powers Rockets past Blazers

HOUSTON: Yao Ming scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to power the Houston Rockets to a 102-88 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in a battle for fourth place in the Western Conference on Sunday.

The victory inched the Rockets (49-28) a half-game ahead of the Trail Blazers (48-28) in the West and snapped Portland's four-game win streak. The Rockets, 31-8 at home this season, also closed within a half-game of third-placed San Antonio (49-27).

"We did a good job today of battling under the basket. We really contained them on the defensive end," Yao told reporters after the Rockets collected 30 of their 42 rebounds on defense.