Yao and Rockets beat Heat

Yao over doubled the points output of his counterpart Shaquille O’Neal, as the Rockets won their fourth straight game to improve to 5-2 so far this season.

O’Neal ended with just 15 points and 10 boards for Miami, which had a two-game win streak halted. Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 24 points, but shot just 8- of-22 from the field, as the Rockets outscored Miami 34-16 in the final quarter to pull away for the win.

Ahead just 68-65 early in the quarter, Houston went on a 12-3 run to start and pull away. Luther Head hit a pair of threes to start the surge and Yao scored the final six points of the run, staking the Rockets to an 80-68 lead with just under four minutes left.

The advantage later reached 21 points when Kirk Snyder hit a pair of free throws with over a minute to go, 91-70, and a three-pointer by Head with under 30 seconds to play capped the scoring for Houston’s largest lead of the night.

Head ended with 11 points. Tracy McGrady had 12 points and eight assists for Houston, which improved to 3-2 on the road this season. Shane Battier also had 11 points for Houston.

Miami led 25-22 after one quarter and carried a 42-39 lead into the locker room. Houston, however, went into the fourth with a 60-56 lead.

The Heat scored just 30 second-half points.

Game Notes

Antoine Walker had 13 points for Miami...The Heat fell to 2-2 at home...Miami swept the season series from Houston last season...Houston ended a three-game slide in Miami...The Heat shot just 39.4 percent for the game...Houston hit 46.1 percent of its shots.