Milwaukee Bucks forward Yi
Jianlian (9) and Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (11), both from
China, face each other for the second time this season in the first
quarter during NBA action in Milwaukee, Wisconsin February 2,
2008.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Yi Jianlian and Houston Rockets center
Yao Ming, both from China, face each other for the second time this
season in the first quarter during NBA action in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin February 2, 2008. The Rockets won 91-83 and Yao scored 12
points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Yi got six points.
Milwaukee - Twenty-four hours before the Super Bowl the Midwest
was abuzz as China's two brightest athletic talents clashed at the
Bradley Center. Events throughout the day in Milwaukee celebrated
Spring Festival, with the grand finale being basketball - the
much-anticipated second and final meeting between Yi Jianlian's
Bucks and Yao Ming's Rockets.
It was close until the end but Houston prevailed, 91-83, winning
their seventh straight game behind 33 points from Rockets' star
Tracy McGrady. Houston, fresh off a win Friday night in Indiana,
shot 50.7 % for the game and outrebounded Milwaukee 50-37.
The rookie Yi finished with 6 points and 7 rebounds in just
under 30 minutes while Western Conference All-Star starter Yao had
a quiet night with 12 points and 9 rebounds. Bucks' center Andrew
Bogut, the NBA's No. 1 overall pick in 2005, outplayed Yao Saturday
night, quickly scoring 10 points as Yao was forced to sit after
picking up two early fouls. Bogut finished with 21 points, 5
rebounds and a game-high 4 blocked shots.?
Milwaukee Bucks' Yi
Jianlian, left, talks with Houston Rockets' Yao Ming, during
warm-ups before the basketball game, Saturday Feb. 2, 2008 in
Milwaukee.
Late in the third quarter Bogut hit a left-handed hook shot over
Yao to cut Houston's lead to 56-52. With Yi on the bench the Bucks
briefly took the lead early in the fourth when forward Charlie
Villanueva put back a miss by Bogut, as the native of Australia
kept challenging Yao's defense in the low post.
The Bucks faltered after that as McGrady and his backcourt mates
Bonzi Wells and Rafer Alston controlled the game with quick scores
and crisp passing.
Fans from neighboring cities like Chicago made the trek to snowy
Milwaukee to see the game, and the Chinese-American community led
the announced sellout crowd of 18,717. They cheered loudly and
raised Chinese banners as Yi began the game with a move to the
basket against Yao, although Houston's Shane Battier deflected the
shot. Yi shot poorly, making only 1 of his 10 shots but he made all
4 of his free throws.
The Rockets led 42-37 at halftime before going on a 6-0 run to
start the third quarter. Tracy McGrady had 23 points through three
quarters, while Yao was held to 5 points and committed 3 turnovers
before stepping up in the fourth. With the win Houston improved to
27-20 while the Bucks fell to 18-30 on the season.
(China Daily/Agencies February 4, 2008)
