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Yao vs. Mavericks - 4/14/04
 Yao contests Antoine Walker's shot Wednesday night in Houston in the final game of the season, which the Rockets lost to the Dallas Mavericks, 92-89. Yao played 22 minutes in a game that didn't have any playoff implications, and scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Both Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley missed their second consecutive game because of injuries. For more photos from the game, click here. (Photo courtesy AP). |
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THURSDAY, 4/15/04 - Although the Rockets-Mavericks game was the marquee game on national TV (ESPN) Wednesday night, the big games to end the season were Los Angeles-Portland and Sacramento-Golden State. If Golden State lost and LA won, then Houston would play the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. If LA had lost (regardless what Sacramento did), then Houston would have to play the Kings in the first round.
The thought of the Kings losing to Golden State on Wednesday with the Pacific Division at stake and the Warriors missing three starters was unfathomable. But that is exactly what happened! At the same time the Lakers-Blazers game was winding down, so it was fun switching back-and-forth between that game and the Kings-Warriors games on NBA League Pass to see who the Rockets were going to end up playing in Round 1. You've probably heard by now about the miracle that happened in Portland. Kobe hit an unbelievable three-point prayer at the buzzer to put the game into overtime. Then in double-overtime with only one-second left on the clock and LA down by two points, the Lakers inbounded the ball to Kobe, WHO NAILED ANOTHER 3-POINTER AT THE BUZZER TO WIN IT! AS A RESULT, THE ROCKETS WILL PLAY THE LAKERS IN ROUND ONE OF THE PLAYOFFS! What an unbelievable end to the regular season in the final game of the season! The Lakers' game against Portland on Wednesday night was probably the only game where I have ever rooted for the Lakers to win, and they did in unbelievable fashion. Kobe's buzzer-beater reminded me so much of the fallaway three-pointer he scored over Yao on March 3rd. With all that's going on in his life, it's still amazing to see what he can do on the basketball court. As you can tell, I'm very excited the Rockets will be playing the Lakers in the first round for several reasons: * The Rockets match up better against the Lakers than the Kings. The Rockets split the season series against LA, but were swept 4-0 by Sacramento. I have been saying for weeks now that I would rather face Minnesota or L.A. in the first round than any other team in the playoffs. * As great as Kobe and Shaq are, the Lakers are a team in turmoil. Not only have they had a lot of controversy this season that has divided them many times, but they also have had many lapses offensively and defensively. The Lakers can be beaten by the Rockets. * Although I hate to see anyone get hurt, the Lakers' Karl Malone sprained his ankle badly against the Blazers and will probably miss lots of action, or be limited in what he can do. Devean George also got hurt with a strained calf. Undoubtedly, this works in Houston's favor. * Kobe might miss a game or two because of court date conflicts. * This series will highlight the Yao vs. Shaq matchup at least 4 more times. That's always a good thing for Yao, who plays his best against Shaq and gives him the most problems of anyone else in the league, and allows Yao to show his skills to an even wider audience interested in the matchup.. * Shaq misses free throws, missing 7-of-8 on Wednesday night. That will always give the Rockets a chance. All of these developments on the West Coast Wednesday night overshadowed the Rockets-Mavs game, which the Rockets lost 92-89. Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley both didn't play so they could rest some injuries, so Mark Jackson, Boki Nachbar, Eric Piatkowski, Clarence Weatherspoon and Mike Wilks all got lots of minutes. The game wasn't really that close. The Rockets were behind by 10-15 points most of the game, mainly because of turnovers from these players who don't get much playing time. These reserves all made a run late in the fourth quarter to go on an 8-0 run to close the gap to 73-80, and later 80-86. But too many turnovers from the reserves just killed their chances. Yao played limited minutes (22), probably so he could get some rest before the playoffs start this weekend, and also so coach Jeff Van Gundy could see what his reserves could do. Yao finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. |
| 1st quarter | ||
| 10:05 |  |
Yao gets the ball a couple of feet outside the left edge of the lane, then takes one step toward the edge, elevates and fades away and drills a 10-foot jumper! That's his first basket, and the Rockets lead 8-4. |
| 7:12 | Free Throws |
Yao gets the ball along the right edge of the lane and goes up for a fadeaway jumper, but he is hacked on the arm by Dirk Nowitzki. So Yao goes to the line and makes the first free throw, but he misses the second. He now has 3 points. The Rockets trail 11-13. |
| 6:16 |  |
Yao gets the ball just outside the left edge of the lane, then spins baseline on Antoine Walker and dribbles a couple of times to get to the basket and goes up for a layup attempt, but Walker slaps the ball out of Yao's hand for the block. Yao is now 1-for-2 from the field and has 3 points. The Rockets trail 11-14. |
| 5:55 |  |
Michael Finley dribbles the ball from the three-point line just to the left edge of the lane, stops and pulls up for a jumper, but Yao comes out from underneath the basket and blocks his shot! The Rockets still trail 11-14. |
| 3:15 | Yao checks out of the game for Maurice Taylor. Yao has 3 points on 1-of-2 shooting. The Rockets trail 17-22. | |
| 2nd quarter - At the end of the first quarter, the Rockets trail 25-26. Yao scored 3 points in the quarter, Scott Padgett scored 7, and Jim Jackson scored 8. Antoine Walker led the Mavericks with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting. | ||
| 5:39 | Yao checks into the game for Maurice Taylor. The Rockets trail 28-35. | |
| 4:57 | Free Throws |
Yao is fouled jockeying for position in the lane by Tony Delk, so Yao gets to go to the line. However, he misses both free throws! The Rockets trail 30-35. |
| 3:27 |  |
With the shot clock winding down, Yao gets the ball just inside the three-point line facing away from the basket. Having no choice but to take the shot, Yao turns toward the basket, elevates and launches a rainbow jumper high into the air over Eduardo Najera, AND THE BALL COMES STRAIGHT DOWN AND SWISHES THROUGH THE BASKET FOR THE SCORE! THAT SHOT WAS INCREDIBLE! Toyota Center goes crazy! Yao is now 2-for-3 from the field with 5 points. The Rockets trail 34-38. |
| 1:42 | Yao checks out of the game for Maurice Taylor. The Rockets trail 34-43. | |
| Halftime - At the end of the second quarter, the Rockets trail 39-47. Houston made only 6-of-14 shots for 14 points in the second quarter, whereas Dallas made 8-of-19 for 21 points. Houston also has 14 turnovers. | ||
| 3rd Quarter - Yao starts the quarter. | ||
| 11:28 |  |
Jim Jackson drives toward the basket, spins and puts up a difficult shot that misses. Yao is able to touch the ball as it comes off the rim, but isn't able to secure it. Unfortunately, they counted that tap as a shot attempt, which is unfair. Yao is 2-for-4 from the field with 5 points. The Rockets trail by 10, 39-49. |
| 8:56 |  |
Jim Jackson drives toward the basket again and puts a shot off the glass that misses, but Yao is there to get the rebound directly underneath the rim, so he goes straight up and drops the ball in for the score! The Rockets now trail 43-55, and Yao is 3-for-5 from the field with 9 points. |
| 7:43 |  + Free Throw |
Yao gets the ball at the top of the key and sensing an open lane to the basket, he immediately breaks toward the rim, dribbles once, takes a huge step, elevates from about the middle of the lane, lifts the ball up with his right hand, and finger rolls it in for the score, and he's fouled! What a thing of beauty! Yao goes to the line and makes the penalty free throw. The Rockets now trail 46-57, and Yao is 4-for-6 from the field with 10 points. |
| 6:31 |  |
Yao gets the ball just inside the right edge of the lane, and with three Mavericks around him, spins into the lane, puts a body on Scott Williams by taking one aggressive step toward the basket, and lays the ball in directly in front of the rim! The Rockets now trail 48-59, and Yao is 5-for-7 from the field with 12 points. |
| 2:48 | Yao checks out of the game for Bostjan Nachbar. The Rockets trail 52-65. | |
| 4th Quarter - At the end of three quarters, the Rockets 59-68. Bostjan Nachbar hit a three-pointer at the third quarter buzzer to close the deficit to 11 points.
Despite cutting the deficit to 80-86 with 1:39 remaining in the game, the Rockets could not overcome and lost 89-92. Coach Jeff Van Gundy decided to let the reserves play the rest of the game, so Yao did not return to the game. He finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, 7 rebounds and 1 block. |
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