Basketball-Trail Blazers tamed a Rockets without Yao Ming
( 2003-10-08 14:19) (AP)
Rasheed Wallace scored 19 points, and Zach
Randolph had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to
a 104-80 victory over the Houston Rockets in the exhibition opener for both
teams Tuesday night.
As Yao Ming watched from the bench in street clothes, Alex Scales led the
Rockets with 11 points. Kelvin Cato had nine points and eight rebounds.
The Trail Blazers began to pull away late in the first quarter. Jeff
McInnis' layup made it 24-17, before his steal and a well-placed pass to Ruben
Patterson under the basket for a dunk made it 26-17.
The Blazers, who
experimented with different on-court combinations, went up 40-21 on Zach
Randolph's slam midway through the second quarter. They led 46-34 at the half.
The Blazers went up 98-71 on Qyntel Woods' dunk with just under three
minutes to play.
Yao arrived in the United States on Sunday, after
playing for China's national team ¡ª which won the Asian Games title and a spot
in the 2004 Olympics. He's had just one practice with the Rockets and new coach
Jeff Van Gundy.
In addition to Van Gundy, the Rockets made key player
moves in the offseason by acquiring forward Jim Jackson and center John Amaechi.
The Blazers didn't look much different. Starting guard Scottie Pippen
went to the Chicago Bulls via free agency, while Lithuanian center Arvydas
Sabonis retired. Guard Antonio Daniels also left as a free agent, but otherwise
the team remained intact.
Center Dale Davis did not start for the
Blazers because of a groin strain. He also was not expected to play Thursday
when the Blazers travel to McArthur Court at the University of Oregon for an
exhibition game against Sacramento.
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