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Yao vs. Kings - 3/23/03

Yao is persistent deep in the paint to score against Sacramento King Vlade Divac. The Rockets almost shocked the Kings at home Sunday night, losing 109-108. (AP photo)

The Rockets played one of their most impressive road games of the season, giving the Sacramento Kings--the team who many predict will win the championship--a run for their money. But a Steve Francis 3-pointer at the buzzer was a little too strong, and the Rockets barely missed beating the team with the best home record in the league (31-6), falling one-point short 109-108.

Houston had their chances, like by blowing a 3-on-1 fast break with 2:45 remaining, and missing key free throws all throughout the fourth quarter. But they made up for it by scoring when they needed to keep it close, including two spectacular 3-pointers by Glen Rice and Francis in the final 15 seconds to set up the game-winning shot by Francis that could have shocked the league. Francis was incredible in scoring 38 points on 14-of-22 shooting, which included dazzling dunks that left the Kings' announcers wide-eyed. He also finished with 9 assists.

Yao got off to a slow start by only making 1 of his first 8 shots, but he finished with 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting. Yao was a monster on the boards by racking up 19 rebounds. He also tallied 2 steals, 1 assist and 1 block. Thanks to Franchise, this was one of those rare games where Yao didn't have to score a lot of points to give his team a chance to win.

With the loss, the Rockets fell back into a tie with Phoenix for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. However, if the Rockets continue to play with the confidence and grit they showed Sunday night in Sacramento, then making the playoffs is almost a given. Even if they don't make the playoffs, the Rockets have displayed uncharacteristic poise the past two games in very hostile arenas with sell-out crowds (Golden State and Sacramento), which bodes well for Houston's long-term mental toughness.

Detailed Yao Analysis
vs. Sacramento Kings 3/23/03

1st quarter - Yao starts the game.

10:30 Francis delivers the ball to Yao in the middle of the paint, who is guarded one-on-one by Vlade Divac, and Yao immediately puts up a right-handed hook shot that misses. Yao skies for the rebound, brings it down low, and it looks like he's going to go up for a powerful jam. But while he's in mid-air to do just that, Vlade goes up in the air and collides into him (no foul is called on Divac!), so Yao has to change the shot to a finger roll. The shot doesn't draw iron because Yao was hit so forcefully. Once again, Yao catches the ball and this time finger rolls it in. Yao is now 1-for-4, although the shot where Vlade got him with the body should have been a foul, not a missed shot. Rockets lead 5-4.

9:00 Vlade drives down the right edge of the lane, bumps into Yao to knock him slightly backwards, then goes up for a fallaway jumper, BUT YAO RECOVERS FROM BEING PUSHED BACK AND JUMPS UP TO BLOCK VLADE'S SHOT AWAY! The Arco Arena crowd roars "OOOOOHH" in respect for Yao's rejection.

Kings TV play-by-play man Grant Napear says, "That's what happens when you challenge Yao."

:54 Yao checks out of the game with 3 points (1-for-6 from the field), 6 rebounds and 2 blocks.

2nd quarter - The Rockets trail 25-28.

5:32 Yao checks into the game.

2:45 Free Throws Yao grabs a defensive rebound and is hacked by Chris Webber near the free throw line. Yao makes both free throws. The Rockets trail 40-48. Yao has 5 points (3-for-4 from the line, 1-for-6 from the field).

Halftime - The Rockets trail 48-57. Yao has 11 rebounds and 5 points (1-for-7 from the field), and the entire team is shooting 32% from the field. But Francis has been spectacular with 18 points to keep the Rockets within striking distance.

3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter.

9:55 In the midst of a horrible shooting slump going 1-for-8 from the field, Yao gets the ball along the right baseline. He pump fakes on Vlade, dribbles once away from the basket to create some space, then launches a long fadeaway jumper over Vlade...COUNT IT! Give Yao credit for showing confidence and attempting a difficult shot when everything has been working against him tonight. Yao is 2-for-9 from the field for 7 points. The Rockets trail 52-61.

7:51 Francis drives the lane with Yao running alongside him outside the lane on the left side. Francis then goes airborne and WHIPS A BEHIND-THE-HEAD PASS TO YAO, who catches it two feet away from the bucket, jumps and GOES UP STRONG AND THROWS DOWN A TWO-HANDED DUNK OVER VLADE! Yao is now 3-for-10 from the field with 9 points. The Rockets trail 56-66.

6:46 Assist From his favorite spot just outside the left side of the paint, Yao is double-teamed with Mike Bibby coming over to give defensive help. Sensing a chance to burn Bibby on his gambling defense, Francis cuts into the lane. Yao spots Francis on his cut and throws a pass to him as he comes down the lane with a head of steam. Francis then launches himself from the center of the paint, goes up with the ball cupped in one hand, AND TOMAHAWK JAMS IT DOWN! Great way to make the Kings pay for their double-team on Yao. The Rockets trail 58-70.

Kings TV broadcaster Grant Napear says, "I tell you one thing. You're looking at two players (Yao and Francis) who are still not even close to being in their prime. And if you want to know who is going to win a championship down the road in the NBA, Houston would probably be your first pick."

5:41 Learning from the last play to not double-team Yao, Bibby doesn't come over to help guard Yao. Instead, Vlade is guarding Yao one-on-one at Yao's favorite spot: just outside the paint on the left side. Yao jockeys for position and dribbles into the middle of the lane and goes up for a right-handed hook shot, which he line drives toward the bucket..and it catches nothing but net! That's Yao's 11th point on 4-of-12 shooting. The Rockets trail 63-70.

4:36 Yao is in the middle of the paint and motioning to Eddie Griffin to pass the ball to James Posey, who is on the weak side wide open. Instead, Griffin passes to Yao, and Yao jumps up in the air to catch the entry pass, and while in mid-air throws a pass to Posey underneath the hoop. BUT Posey misses the layup as Bibby recovers to alter his shot just barely.

3:37 Intimidation Vlade drives to the hoop and receives a bounce pass from Bibby near the elbow, but Yao makes him alter his shot for a tough reverse, and he is able to get a hand on it the rejection! However, the official scorekeeper gives the block to Griffin, who also attempted to swat Vlade's shot away.

Kings color analyst Jerry Reynolds comments, "That shows you some of the special things he can do. That's a basket against about any other player in the league."

2:05 Yao checks out of the game with 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting. The Rockets trail 71-79.

4th quarter - The Rockets trail 73-86.

6:01 Yao checks into the game with the Rockets down 96-91.

3:51 From the left side of the paint, Yao makes a pump fake on Scot Pollard and drives into the lane and makes his move to put up a running hook, but he's hacked by Pollard. Yao goes to the line and misses both free throws! Couple that with the Maurice Taylor only making 1 out of his last 4 free throws, and we've got a totally different game. The Rockets trail 94-98.

0:00 The Rockets made it very close at the end when Francis missed a 31-foot 3-pointer that could have won it, but it wasn't meant to be as the Rockets lost 109-108. Yao finished with 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting, 19 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.

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1st quarter - Yao starts the game.
10:30		Francis delivers the ball to Yao in the middle of the paint, who is guarded one-on-one by Vlade Divac, and Yao immediately puts up a right-handed hook shot that misses. Yao skies for the rebound, brings it down low, and it looks like he's going to go up for a powerful jam. But while he's in mid-air to do just that, Vlade goes up in the air and collides into him (no foul is called on Divac!), so Yao has to change the shot to a finger roll. The shot doesn't draw iron because Yao was hit so forcefully. Once again, Yao catches the ball and this time finger rolls it in. Yao is now 1-for-4, although the shot where Vlade got him with the body should have been a foul, not a missed shot. Rockets lead 5-4.
9:00		Vlade drives down the right edge of the lane, bumps into Yao to knock him slightly backwards, then goes up for a fallaway jumper, BUT YAO RECOVERS FROM BEING PUSHED BACK AND JUMPS UP TO BLOCK VLADE'S SHOT AWAY! The Arco Arena crowd roars "OOOOOHH" in respect for Yao's rejection. *Kings TV play-by-play man Grant Napear says, "That's what happens when you challenge Yao."*
:54		Yao checks out of the game with 3 points (1-for-6 from the field), 6 rebounds and 2 blocks.
2nd quarter - The Rockets trail 25-28.
5:32		Yao checks into the game.
2:45	Free Throws	Yao grabs a defensive rebound and is hacked by Chris Webber near the free throw line. Yao makes both free throws. The Rockets trail 40-48. Yao has 5 points (3-for-4 from the line, 1-for-6 from the field).
Halftime - The Rockets trail 48-57. Yao has 11 rebounds and 5 points (1-for-7 from the field), and the entire team is shooting 32% from the field. But Francis has been spectacular with 18 points to keep the Rockets within striking distance.
3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter.
9:55		In the midst of a horrible shooting slump going 1-for-8 from the field, Yao gets the ball along the right baseline. He pump fakes on Vlade, dribbles once away from the basket to create some space, then launches a long fadeaway jumper over Vlade...COUNT IT! Give Yao credit for showing confidence and attempting a difficult shot when everything has been working against him tonight. Yao is 2-for-9 from the field for 7 points. The Rockets trail 52-61.
7:51		Francis drives the lane with Yao running alongside him outside the lane on the left side. Francis then goes airborne and WHIPS A BEHIND-THE-HEAD PASS TO YAO, who catches it two feet away from the bucket, jumps and GOES UP STRONG AND THROWS DOWN A TWO-HANDED DUNK OVER VLADE! Yao is now 3-for-10 from the field with 9 points. The Rockets trail 56-66.
6:46	Assist	From his favorite spot just outside the left side of the paint, Yao is double-teamed with Mike Bibby coming over to give defensive help. Sensing a chance to burn Bibby on his gambling defense, Francis cuts into the lane. Yao spots Francis on his cut and throws a pass to him as he comes down the lane with a head of steam. Francis then launches himself from the center of the paint, goes up with the ball cupped in one hand, AND TOMAHAWK JAMS IT DOWN! Great way to make the Kings pay for their double-team on Yao. The Rockets trail 58-70. Kings TV broadcaster Grant Napear says, "I tell you one thing. You're looking at two players (Yao and Francis) who are still not even close to being in their prime. And if you want to know who is going to win a championship down the road in the NBA, Houston would probably be your first pick."
5:41		Learning from the last play to not double-team Yao, Bibby doesn't come over to help guard Yao. Instead, Vlade is guarding Yao one-on-one at Yao's favorite spot: just outside the paint on the left side. Yao jockeys for position and dribbles into the middle of the lane and goes up for a right-handed hook shot, which he line drives toward the bucket..and it catches nothing but net! That's Yao's 11th point on 4-of-12 shooting. The Rockets trail 63-70.
4:36		Yao is in the middle of the paint and motioning to Eddie Griffin to pass the ball to James Posey, who is on the weak side wide open. Instead, Griffin passes to Yao, and Yao jumps up in the air to catch the entry pass, and while in mid-air throws a pass to Posey underneath the hoop. BUT Posey misses the layup as Bibby recovers to alter his shot just barely.
3:37	Intimidation	Vlade drives to the hoop and receives a bounce pass from Bibby near the elbow, but Yao makes him alter his shot for a tough reverse, and he is able to get a hand on it the rejection! However, the official scorekeeper gives the block to Griffin, who also attempted to swat Vlade's shot away. *Kings color analyst Jerry Reynolds comments, "That shows you some of the special things he can do. That's a basket against about any other player in the league."*
2:05		Yao checks out of the game with 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting. The Rockets trail 71-79.
4th quarter - The Rockets trail 73-86.
6:01		Yao checks into the game with the Rockets down 96-91.
3:51		From the left side of the paint, Yao makes a pump fake on Scot Pollard and drives into the lane and makes his move to put up a running hook, but he's hacked by Pollard. Yao goes to the line and misses both free throws! Couple that with the Maurice Taylor only making 1 out of his last 4 free throws, and we've got a totally different game. The Rockets trail 94-98.
0:00		The Rockets made it very close at the end when Francis missed a 31-foot 3-pointer that could have won it, but it wasn't meant to be as the Rockets lost 109-108. Yao finished with 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting, 19 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.