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Yao, Artest help Rockets beat Grizzlies in opener

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-30 13:09

HOUSTON – Yao Ming had 21 points and 10 rebounds, Ron Artest added 16 in his Houston debut, and the Rockets overcame poor shooting to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 82-71 on Wednesday night.

Memphis Grizzlies' Marc Gasol, left, of Spain, knocks the ball away from Houston Rockets' Yao Ming, of China, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008, in Houston. [Agencies]

Luis Scola had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who were 28-for-76 (36.8 percent) from the field. They also went 5-for-16 from 3-point range and were outrebounded 49-44.

Rudy Gay scored 20 and Darrell Arthur had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who've lost all eight season openers since moving to Memphis in 2001.

Tracy McGrady, wearing a brace on his left shoulder and a wrap below his left knee, had 16 points and five assists, but went 7-for-18 from the field.

Houston won this one with its defense, which ranked fourth in the league in points allowed last season. Memphis shot 38 percent from the field (31-for-81) and went 0-for-13 from 3-point range.

Artest had two steals and a breakaway layup in the first minute of the game and the Rockets raced to an 11-2 lead.

But Artest and McGrady both had two turnovers apiece in the first quarter to help the Grizzlies stay close. Gay scored 10 points on 5-for-9 shooting in the quarter and Houston led only 26-18.

Both teams missed 8 of their first 10 shots in the second quarter. Artest sank a 3-pointer near the 6-minute mark to put the Rockets up 34-26, but the Grizzlies closed the gap to 37-35 on Marc Gasol's three-point play with 2:49 left in the half.

The Rockets led 43-37 at the break, but McGrady walked off the floor with his hands on his hips and a frustrated on his face look after going 4-for-10 from the field. Houston was only 6-for-21 from the field in the second quarter.

The Grizzlies closed the gap to one at the end of the third despite Yao's circus shot. He flipped the ball over his head with his left hand as Gasol was grabbing his right arm. Gasol was called for a foul and Yao converted the three-point play, but the Grizzlies scored the last six points of the third quarter and trailed only 58-57.

With McGrady on the bench to start the final period, Memphis took a brief lead on Arthur's breakaway dunk.

It was short-lived as Houston went back on top on Artest's drive that made it 68-65.

The Rockets led 75-71 when Rafer Alston sank his first 3-pointer with 37.2 seconds left to finally put the game away.

The Rockets have won 13 of their last 15 home openers.