MILWAUKEE (AP) -The second edition of Yao vs. Yi didn’t quite live up to its billing, as Yao Ming’s Houston Rockets beat Yi Jianlian and the Milwaukee Bucks 91-83 on Saturday despite relatively quiet nights by both of China’s biggest basketball exports.
Yao scored 12 points and added 12 rebounds for Houston, sitting for much of the first half after getting in early foul trouble and tweaking his ankle just before halftime.
Yi scored six points, below the rookie’s average of 9.7 per game.
Tracy McGrady scored 33 to lead Houston, hitting several jumpers to hold off a late Bucks rally.
Australian Andrew Bogut added to the game’s international flavor with 21 points to lead Milwaukee, often getting the best of Yao on both ends of the court.
Jazz 110, Grizzlies 91
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Carlos Boozer had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Deron Williams had 16 points and 11 assists, and Utah extended its winning streak to eight games by beating new-look Memphis.
The Jazz have won 12 of their last 13 and sit atop the Western Conference’s Northwest Division. Memphis lost its third consecutive game, and Grizzlies fans got a glimpse of what the rest of the season might be like without team leader Pau Gasol, who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
Rudy Gay led Memphis with 15 points, but was 5-of-15 from the field. The Grizzlies were short-handed because none of the three players obtained from Los Angeles – Javaris Crittenton, Kwame Brown and Aaron McKie – dressed for the game.
Cavaliers 98, Clippers 84
CLEVELAND (AP) – LeBron James scored 28 points after missing a game with a sprained right ankle, leading Cleveland over Los Angeles.
James missed Cleveland’s 101-95 loss in Seattle on Thursday after injuring the ankle the previous night against Portland. The Cavaliers, who are 0-6 without James this season, announced he would start about 45 minutes before the game.
The Clippers played their fourth straight game without leading scorers Corey Maggette and Chris Kaman, who were out with the flu. Al Thornton led Los Angeles with 23 points while Cuttino Mobley scored 19.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Drew Gooden added 14 points and 12 boards, while James had 11 rebounds.
Nuggets 117, Bobcats 101
DENVER (AP) – Carmelo Anthony returned from an ankle injury to score 25 points, Allen Iverson added 24 points and 13 assists, and Denver beat Charlotte.
Linas Kleiza came off the bench to add 23 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, as the Nuggets won their eighth straight game at the Pepsi Center. The team is now 20-5 at home this season. Denver didn’t win its 20th home game last season until April 4.
Jason Richardson tied a season high with 38 points, and Emeka Okafor added 20 points and 18 rebounds. Raymond Felton, playing on a sprained left ankle, scored 14 points.
Magic 121, Pacers 115
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Dwight Howard had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Orlando beat Indiana for its fourth straight victory.
Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half, and Rashard Lewis added 19 points for Orlando (31-18).
Danny Granger finished with 29 points, Mike Dunleavy scored 19 and Troy Murphy chipped in 17 for the slumping Pacers (19-29), who dropped their sixth consecutive game.
Hawks 104, Nets 92
ATLANTA (AP) – Marvin Williams scored 24 points, Josh Smith and Josh Childress each had 23, and Atlanta ended a three-game losing streak by beating New Jersey.
The Hawks, who had dropped seven of eight, used a quick transition game to outscore New Jersey 16-7 on fast-break points in the second half.
Richard Jefferson led the Nets with 23 points. Reserve forward Bostjan Nachbar finished with 16 as New Jersey had a two-game winning streak snapped and dropped to 2-10 since Jan. 11.
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