Yao Ming leads Rockets to tame Jazz
(CRIENGLISH.com )
Updated: 2005-10-27 15:15

Yao Ming and David Wesley showed that the Houston Rockets had no problems competing without Tracy McGrady.

Yao and Wesley scored 19 points apiece to lead the Rockets to an 88-80 preseason victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. The Chinese center also had 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks.

Houston, winners of six of seven preseason games, played Wednesday's contest without McGrady, who has won two of the last three NBA scoring titles.

The Jazz scored the game's opening basket, but the Rockets jumped to a 19-11 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. Yao, who also grabbed six rebounds, scored nine points in the opening period.

Newcomer Derek Anderson scored 14 points while reserve guard Jon Barry chipped in 13 and five assists for Houston.

Rookie Deron Williams paced Utah with 16 points and six assists while Greg Ostertag collected 11 rebounds in 19 minutes. Russian "Ak47" Kirilenko only had 8 points.

The Jazz played without starting power forward Carlos Boozer, who was nursing a strained left hamstring. Utah's Matt Harpring, currently rehabbing a surgically repaired right knee, also did not play.