USA - Ming propels Rockets to victory

SAN ANTONIO (NBA) - Yao Ming collected 22 points and seven rebounds as the Houston Rockets saw off the San Antonio Spurs 97-78 in the latest NBA action.

The Chinese international star shot 8-of-15 from the floor and 6-of-6 from the line for the Rockets, who shot 51% (38-of-74) from the field to pick up their first win against the Spurs on the road in almost 10 years.

Bonzi Wells also added 15 off the bench for the winners.

Argentina guard Manu Ginobili scored 23 points for the Spurs, who shot just 40% (29-of-72).

Dirk Nowitzki had 20 points and 12 rebounds despite playing on a bad ankle as the Dallas Mavericks routed the stumbling Los Angeles Clippers 115-83.

German Nowitzki had been a doubt for Friday's contest after sustaining the injury against Seattle in midweek, but the forward shot 7-of-15 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from the arc in 26 minutes.

Josh Howard top-scored with 25 points, including consecutive three pointers in the last 40 seconds, for Dallas, who had led by as many as 43 points in the fourth quarter.

Italian rookie Andrea Bargnani drained a go-ahead jumper with four seconds left in overtime as the Toronto Raptors picked up their second successive dramatic win, 101-100 over the Portland Trail Blazers.

The first overall pick in this year's draft, Bargnani scored 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the floor and 4-of-4 from the line, while TJ Ford was 11-of-23 from the field as he collected 23 points and 10 assists to help move the Raptors into first place in the Atlantic Division.

A contribution of 14 points from Argentina star Andres Nocioni was not enough to save the Chicago Bulls, who slumped to a 103-92 loss at the New York Knicks.

Jamal Crawford scored 30 points and Eddy Curry added 20 as the Knicks earned their longest winning streak of the season with three successive victories since their well-publicised brawl against Denver last Saturday.

Pau Gasol, who was part of Spain's victorious side at the FIBA World Championship earlier this year, scored a season-high 26 points but his Memphis Grizzlies team still fell short against New Orleans.

Desmond Mason had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and converted a decisive lay-up with 25 seconds left in overtime, as the Hornets ended a four-game losing streak with a 100-97 victory.

And John Salmons scored 21 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out 10 assists as the Sacramento Kings posted a 101-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets to dampen the euphoria surrounding the arrival of Allen Iverson.

The Nuggets acquired Iverson from the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, and although he did not start, he still played 39 minutes, scoring 22 points and handing out 10 assists in a losing cause.

In other games, Gilbert Arenas netted a stunning 54 points as the Washington Wizards snapped the Phoenix Suns' league-high 15-game winning streak with an exhilarating 144-139 overtime victory.

Matt Carroll scored all 16 of his points in the fourth quarter as the Charlotte Bobcats held on for a 101-89 victory over the Utah Jazz, while Baron Davis had 38 points and nine assists as the Golden State Warriors recorded their second straight win with a 117-108 success over Orlando Magic.

Indiana Pacers snapped a four-game losing streak to Atlanta with a 100-90 victory, thanks in part to a season-high 27 points from former Hawk Stephen Jackson, and Kobe Bryant had 21 points and 11 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers staved off a frantic fourth-quarter run by the New Jersey Nets to post a 99-95 win.

Andre Iguodala scored a career-high 31 points as the Philadelphia 76ers ended a 12-game losing streak with a 98-83 victory over the Boston Celtics, and the Milwaukee Bucks completed a two-game season sweep against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 113-107 triumph, in which Michael Redd tallied 29 points for the winners.

PA Sport