http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/11123665p-12040038c.html
Kings beat Yao, Rockets in China
By Mark Kreidler -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, October 17, 2004
BEIJING, China - The Kings and the Houston Rockets exited China with a bang, even if they had to drag a visibly exhausted Yao Ming with them to the finish.
Playing before a packed and occasionally raucous house of more than 18,000 fans at aging Capital Indoor Stadium, the Kings and Rockets tried gamely to put on a show in the finale of their two-contest China Games set. Sacramento's last-gasp 92-89 victory had just enough highlights to qualify. In a country into which the NBA wants to spread its tentacles, this game didn't hurt.
High-flying dunks by Kings rookie Kevin Martin and Houston's Tracy McGrady brought the crowd to its feet, and the Chinese fans roared their approval in the third quarter when Peja Stojakovic nailed a deep threepointer and again in the fourth, when Bobby Jackson came off a screen to hit the winning trey with no time on the shot clock.
But the game ultimately revolved around Yao, as has every minute of every day of this weeklong excursion. He didn't disappoint, coming up with two beautiful assists and displaying his soft touch on baseline jumpers.
Nevertheless, those close to Yao acknowledged that the 7-foot-6 center was ready to head back to Texas. Besieged at every turn by adoring fans and needful NBA executives, the Rockets' international star scarcely had a quiet moment since landing in his hometown of Shanghai on Monday. The Kings again received solid performances from their starting unit and suffered only one minor injury, a cracked tooth that kept Darius Songaila out of the lineup in the second half.
Kings beat Yao, Rockets in China
By Mark Kreidler -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Sunday, October 17, 2004
BEIJING, China - The Kings and the Houston Rockets exited China with a bang, even if they had to drag a visibly exhausted Yao Ming with them to the finish.
Playing before a packed and occasionally raucous house of more than 18,000 fans at aging Capital Indoor Stadium, the Kings and Rockets tried gamely to put on a show in the finale of their two-contest China Games set. Sacramento's last-gasp 92-89 victory had just enough highlights to qualify. In a country into which the NBA wants to spread its tentacles, this game didn't hurt.
High-flying dunks by Kings rookie Kevin Martin and Houston's Tracy McGrady brought the crowd to its feet, and the Chinese fans roared their approval in the third quarter when Peja Stojakovic nailed a deep threepointer and again in the fourth, when Bobby Jackson came off a screen to hit the winning trey with no time on the shot clock.
But the game ultimately revolved around Yao, as has every minute of every day of this weeklong excursion. He didn't disappoint, coming up with two beautiful assists and displaying his soft touch on baseline jumpers.
Nevertheless, those close to Yao acknowledged that the 7-foot-6 center was ready to head back to Texas. Besieged at every turn by adoring fans and needful NBA executives, the Rockets' international star scarcely had a quiet moment since landing in his hometown of Shanghai on Monday. The Kings again received solid performances from their starting unit and suffered only one minor injury, a cracked tooth that kept Darius Songaila out of the lineup in the second half.