YaoMingMania.com

Yao shoots a baseline fadeaway jumper over Shaq on Wednesday night. Despite Yao having an awesome performance statistically (33 points on 13-of-21 shooting), the Rockets lost painfully 96-93 to the Lakers, collapsing in the second half after holding a commanding 15-point lead. For more photos from the game, click here to see photos posted in the Discussion Forum. (Photo courtesy AP).

1st quarter
10:13		Yao gets the ball on the left edge of the lane guarded one-on-one by Shaq. Yao fakes like he's going to turn into the lane, but then pivots toward the baseline and puts up a left-handed jump hook over Shaq, and he misses. Yao is 0-for-1 from the field. The Rockets trail 3-6.
8:49		Francis goes up for a three-pointer at the top of the key, but then decides to dump it off to Yao in the middle of the lane instead. Guarded one-on-one by Shaq, Yao pivots away from him toward the right edge of the lane. Yao then shoots a right-handed jump hook over Shaq, who has no chance of blocking it, and he scores! ESPN analyst Bill Walton says, "Yao Ming is one of two people on Earth that makes Shaq look like a normal-sized human being. The other (person) being Arvydas Sabonis."
5:58		Yao gets the ball on the left side of the court and dribbles to the edge of the lane near the elbow of the lane, then pivots back toward the baseline and puts up a fadeaway baseline jumper over Shaq, BUT SHAQ BLOCKS IT! However on the replay, it looks like Shaq caught part of Yao's hand. That same kind of play has happened against Yao before in another game where the defensive player got away with clipping his hand on that baseline fadeaway shot. There is absolutely no way anyone can legally block that shot. It's just too high. However, Shaq is more active defensively tonight by getting close to blocking his shot. ESPN analyst Sean Elliott says, "That move (by Yao) is not going to get it done against a focused Shaquille O'Neal, that's for sure. Yao has gotta try to get it a little closer to the basket...set up a little closer."
5:15		Yao gets the ball on the left edge of the lane with Slava Medvedenko guarding him and Gary Payton coming over to help. With his back to the basket, Yao then pivots strong to his left -- which is toward the glass -- and away from Medvendenko but toward Payton. PAYTON THEN HAS TO GET OUT OF THE WAY TO AVOID GETTING SQUASHED AS YAO GOES OVER HIM AND LAYS IT IN OFF THE GLASS! Yao is now 2-for-4 from the field with 4 points. The Rockets trail 13-17.
4:43	Ally-oop!	Francis puts up a lob for Cato on the left side of the rim, and Cato slams it through! That's the second time that has happened tonight between Francis and Cato! The Houston crowd roars in delight! The Rockets now only trail 15-17.
4:28		Yao checks out of the game for Maurice Taylor with 4 points on 2-of-4 shooting from the field. The Rockets trail 15-17. After ESPN play-by-play man Mike Tirico comments how Yao gets fatigued such that he can't sustain 10-11 minute stretches of play, and ESPN analyst Sean Elliott questions if Yao will ever be in better shape given how young he is (23 years old), Bill Walton comments, "But trying to learn the pace of NBA basketball, which is so different than international ball...really the level of competition that Yao Ming plays against in the Chinese national league is nothing like this."
1:32		Yao checks into the game for Kelvin Cato. The Rockets trail 22-27.
1:00		Yao misses a jumper over Shaq from the middle of the lane, which ends up being an air ball. Yao had pump-faked on the play, and it almost looked like he was trying to draw a foul on Shaq, who was playing him pretty close. The good thing is that Francis caught Yao's air ball underneath the basket, dribbled it out of the lane, then dished to Cuttino Mobley behind the three-point line, who drilled a trey! The Rockets trail now 25-29. Yao is now 2-for-5 from the field with 4 points. Bill Walton astutely points out, "With Shaq having to concentrate on Yao Ming, that's going to leave offensive rebounds galore for the Houston Rockets."
:45		With Jim Jackson defending him, Rick Fox drives to the hole from way past the three-point line, and Yao comes over to help Jackson and blocks Fox's shot! That's Yao's first block of the game.
2nd quarter - At the end of the first quarter, the Rockets trail 25-29. The Lakers shot 13-of-21 from the field, and the Rockets shot 9-of-20. Gary Payton had 11 points for the Lakers, and Shaq had 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field (0-of-3 from the line). Kobe Bryant had 6 points and an incredible 7 assists in the quarter. Yao has 4 points on 2-of-5 shooting from the floor. Yao starts the quarter.
8:11		Francis has the ball at the top of the three-point line and points to a spot on the floor while looking at Maurice Taylor, basically saying, "set a pick for me right there." This gets the defense ready to defend against the pick-and-roll, BUT THEN FRANCIS SURPRISES EVERYONE BY WHIPPING A PASS TO YAO IN THE LANE, and Yao bounces the ball once with Shaq right on him, puts a body on him, then turns toward the baseline and lofts a right-handed hook shot over Shaq...AND BANG! Yao is now 3-for-6 from the field, and the Rockets lead 36-34. Walton says, "That's what's so mind-boggling is that somebody (like Yao) can just flash-in (and) call for the ball against Shaquille O'Neal." And a few minutes later during the replay, he says, "If you can call for the ball and go head-to-head right at Shaquille O'Neal, that's the kind of play that can change the course of history and get the Houston Rockets back into the playoffs for the first time in five years." Elliott says, "That's the kind of move I like right there. That's why I like how Yao Ming...he's aggressive, he catches the ball, takes one bounce, throws his BODY into Shaq, trying to create the contact. And then has a nice soft jump hook."
6:24		Mark Jackson throws a no-look, behind-the-back pass to Yao just to the right of the top of the key, and with Shaq only about 3 feet away from him, YAO SQUARES UP AND DRILLS A 20-FOOTER!! That play brings the Toyota Center roof down!! Yao is now 4-for-7 from the field with 8 points, and the Rockets lead 41-34.
5:59		Yao shoots a right-handed hook shot over Shaq from the right side of the lane, but he misses everything on that shot. However, Maurice Taylor catches the ball on the other side of the rim, and he goes up for a layup but is fouled! Taylor ends up making 1-of-2 free throws, and the Rockets lead 42-34. Houston is on a 20-5 run, and the Lakers' shooting has slumped to 27% over the past 8 minutes. Yao is now 4-for-8 from the field with 8 points.
5:10		Mark Jackson penetrates into the lane, and once again he throws a behind-the-back no-look pass to Yao on the left side of the court about 15-feet away from the basket. Already squared up to the basket, Yao launches a jumper over Shaq and NAILS IT! Yao is now 5-for-9 from the field with 10 points. The Rockets lead 44-34, their biggest lead of the game. Walton says, "Yao Ming right now continues the offensive demolition of the Los Angeles Lakers."
4:32		From the top of the three-point line, Mark Jackson throws another pass to Yao, this time in the middle of the lane. Yao then just turns toward the hoop on Brian Cook and lays the ball in easily! Yao is on a roll, shooting 6-for-10 from the field with 12 points. The Rockets lead 46-34.
3:55		Yao checks out of the game for a breather with 12 points and 6 rebounds. Cato checks in for Yao.
2:24		Yao checks back into the game for Eric Piatkowski. The Rockets lead 46-39.
2:09		Once again, Yao gets the ball in the lane guarded by Brian Cook. Yao just turns toward the baseline, elevates, and lays it in off the glass! That was as easy as they come! Yao is now 7-for-11 from the field with 14 points. The Rockets lead 48-39.
:27		Yao checks out of the game for Maurice Taylor. The Rockets lead 53-41.
:07		Cuttino Mobley drives toward the basket and crashes hard to the floor and lands right on his tailbone! Yao, who is on the bench, watches the play and reacts in obvious shock, as does Jim Jackson. That's the most shocked look I have ever seen from Yao, so you know the crash must have been painful for Mobley. At this point in the game, Mobley is 2-for-6 from the field with 5 points. Mobley goes to the locker room to get treatment for his injury. The Rockets lead 53-43.
Halftime - At the end of the second quarter, the Rockets lead 53-43 after outscoring the Lakers 28-14 in the quarter. Houston shot 70% from the field (12-of-17) and the Lakers shot 25% (5-of-20) in the quarter. The Rockets have 16 assists at halftime compared to 11 for the Lakers. Francis has 10 points. Yao has 14 points and 6 boards. Shaq has 9 points and three fouls. Things are looking good for the Rockets as they head into halftime. Can they put the Lakers away?
3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter.
11:19		Steve Francis passes the ball to Yao in the middle of the lane, and he immediately goes up for a jump hook over Shaq 9 feet directly in front of the rim. The ball sails to the backboard AND BANKS IN OFF THE GLASS FROM STRAIGHT AWAY. Something tells me Yao didn't mean to bank it off the glass, but that he'll definitely take it! He is now 8-for-12 from the field with 16 points. The Rockets lead 55-45.
10:38	Ally-oop!	Francis lofts another ball up to the rim and Cato slams it home! That's the third ally-oop tonight between Francis and Cato! The Rockets lead 57-47.
10:12		Mobley dribbles the ball all the way down the court and sees a seam that he can take to drive to the basket. Mobley gets to about 5 feet in front of the basket where Shaq is standing, then dishes the ball off to Yao around Shaq. However, Mobley's pass bounces off of Shaq's back accidentally, AND YAO IS QUICK ENOUGH TO REACT AND GRAB THE DEFLECTED PASS, TAKES ONE STEP AND ELEVATES TO SLAM DUNK THE BALL WITH THE RIGHT HAND! Yao is now 9-for-13 from the field with 18 points, and has made 7 of his last 8 shots. The Rockets lead 59-47.
8:51		Cuttino Mobley launches a three-pointer from the left corner, and Yao is the only Rocket crashing the boards while the ball is in flight. Good thing, because the shot rims out AND YAO TIMES HIS JUMP PERFECTLY TO GRAB THE BALL IN FRONT OF THE RIM BETWEEN THREE LAKERS (one being Shaq), COMES DOWN WITH IT AND SLAMS IT HOME on the right side of the basket, AND HE'S FOULED! Yao goes to the line and makes the penalty free throw. The Rockets lead 62-50.
7:53		Yao gets the ball a couple of feet outside the right edge of the lane and Shaq is guarding him one-on-one. Yao is crouched down low, not revealing to Shaq what he's going to do. Then Yao immediately springs up and launches a high-arching jumper from 13 feet, and the ball floats down beautifully from the rafters and softly goes through the net for the score! Yao is putting on a clinic! Toyota Center is lovin' it! Elliott says, "This is a tough matchup for Shaquille O'Neal...We have a guy who can just turn around and shoot over the top of you with no regard. Shaq hasn't had that happen to him in a long, long time." Yao is now 11-for-15 from the field with 23 points, and has made 7 shots in a row, and 9 of his last 10! The Rockets lead 67-52, their largest lead of the night.
7:34		Yao fouls Shaq, which is his fourth foul. So Yao has to check out of the game for Maurice Taylor. The Rockets lead 67-52.
6:21		Francis throws another lob to the right of the rim, AND CATO THROWS DOWN ANOTHER ALLY-OOP! That's the fourth ally-oop between Francis and Cato in this game! The Rockets lead 69-56.
1:46		Yao checks back into the game for Kelvin Cato. The Rockets have only scored two points in the last 6 minutes of play since he exited the game, and the Lakers are back in the game trailing 60-69.
1:29	Free Throws	Yao gets the ball underneath the basket and is fouled trying to shoot a layup in front of the rim. Yao goes to the line and makes both free throws. He is now 3-for-3 from the line and has 25 points. The Rockets lead 73-64.
:03		Yao passes up a wide open shot from the top of the key, then gets the ball back a few seconds later in the same spot, and misses a set shot from the same spot. Yao is now 11-for-16 from the field. The Rockets lead 71-62.
4th quarter - At the end of the third quarter, the Rockets lead 71-62. The Lakers outscored the Rockets 19-18 in the quarter.
11:31	Free Throws	Yao gets fouled shooting a jumper in the lane. He goes to the line and makes both free throws to give the Rockets a 73-64 lead. Yao now has 27 points.
11:00		Yao shoots a right-handed jump hook along the baseline and it's good! He now has 29 points on 12-of-17 shooting. The Rockets lead 75-64. Walton says, "He is just getting better by the minute, right in front of our eyes. He came in at 7'6", it looks like he is about 7'11" at this point. Just calling for the ball and saying, "I don't care how many guys are around me. I'm just throwin' down that little flick, jump hook."
9:29		Yao draws a charging foul on Luke Walton. That was a close one! If the refs had called Yao for a foul, that would have been his fifth! The Rockets lead 77-69.
8:46		Yao comes across the lane and gets passed the ball by Maurice Taylor on the right edge of the lane. Yao doesn't hesitate and shoots a right-handed hook shot over Shaq...AND SCORE IT! Walton says, "How about the versatility in Yao Ming's game? Doing it from both sides of the court. All kinds of different shots all the time." Yao now has 31 points on 13-of-18 shooting, and the Rockets lead 79-69.
7:46	Ally-oop!	From behind the three-point line on the right side of the court, Mobley throws a gorgeous pass to the front of the rim and Francis skies to throw it down! The Houston crowd goes nuts on a beautiful play where Francis got a running start from the top of the three-point line! That was one of the most spectacular plays this season! Thank God that Van Gundy brought these plays back into the offense earlier this season. They need as many easy baskets as they can get! The Rockets lead 81-71.
5:15		Luke Walton hits a three-pointer to put the Lakers ahead 82-81. The Lakers have gone on an 11-0 run (and will eventually be a 13-0 run).
3:18		Luke Walton hits ANOTHER three-pointer to put the Lakers ahead 87-85. This rookie is killing the Rockets!
2:58	Free Throws	The Rockets need points down 85-87. Yao gets the ball a couple of feet outside the right edge of the lane and Shaq is guarding him one-on-one. Yao then pivots toward the baseline, pump fakes WHICH GETS SHAQ TO BITE, and Yao is fouled by Shaq while in the act of shooting! And that's Shaq's 5th foul! Elliott says, "Shaq doen't leave his feet very often but he's been victim to Yao Ming's turnaround jumper and hook shots, so he overreacts and jumps on that fake." Yao goes to the line and makes both free throws. He has 33 points (7-for-7 from the line), and the Rockets tie the game at 87-all.
2:42		With the game tied at 87-87, Yao fouls Shaq as Shaq makes an offensive move underneath the Lakers basket. Shaq misses both free throws, BUT THE SECOND MISS BOUNCES HARD OFF THE RIM AND COMES DOWN TO THE LAKERS. The Lakers put up a couple of shots that miss, and the Rockets finally gain possession underneath the Lakers' basket. However, as Francis starts dribbling to get out of the baseline area, Shaq kicks the ball and is able to gain possession and he slams it home! That was an illegal kick by Shaq, but the refs didn't call it! Now the Lakers are up 89-87. This possession was a back-breaker for the Rockets!
1:16	FG #19 Missed	With the Rockets trailing 89-92, Yao misses a jump hook in the lane over Shaq, and Yao seems to be upset that the refs didn't call a foul on him!
1:09		Trailing 89-92, Yao is passed the ball one foot inside the three-point line at the top of the arc, and is standing there all by himself. Instead of taking a gutsy shot, Yao drives toward the basket down the left side of the lane and throws up a wild shot that hardly gets out of his hands. We wonder if Yao had been one foot further away from the basket (in three-point territory) if he would have taken the shot to tie the game? We wish we could have seen it. Instead, his driving toward the basket like that is not his game. The ball gets batted around a few times, and Francis is fouled by Medvedenko. Francis goes to the line with 59 seconds remaining in the game and makes both free throws. The Rockets now trail 91-92.
:39.2		Jim Jackson nails a long two-pointer to put the Rockets ahead 93-92. Unfortunately his toe was barely on the three-point line. That toe on the line could really make a big difference in the outcome of this game, though.
:31.7		Kobe Bryant makes a long fadeaway jumper over Yao, which puts the Lakers ahead 94-93. It was an incredible shot.
:12		Trailing 93-94, Yao gets the ball at the top of the key from Francis and puts up a 20-foot jump shot, but it misses. The ball comes off the rim and it looks like Francis is going to get it in the middle of the lane, but HE FAILS TO HOLD ONTO IT BECAUSE YOU COULD TELL HE WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO WITH IT BEFORE HE SECURED POSSESSION! The ball gets batted around to Derek Fisher, who is fouled. Fisher goes to the line and makes both free throws to put L.A. up 96-93. Unfortunately, Mobley misses a three-pointer at the buzzer and the Rockets lose. What a devastating loss after the Rockets were rolling with double-digit leads! Yao finishes with 33 points on 13-of-21 from the field, and 7-of-7 from the line. Not bad stats compared to Shaq's 28 points, but I'm sure Yao wishes he had a 'W' instead.