Yao Ming returned to the Houston lineup on Tuesday after a 21-game
injury layoff, but the Rockets' were unable to snap out of their
recent malaise, going down 86-77 to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Yao had 15 points and eight rebounds in his return from a foot
injury that required surgery, but the Rockets remained firmly
grounded, losing their third straight and 11th in 14 games.
Chucky Atkins, who was let go by the Washington Wizards and
picked up by the Grizzlies last week, bagged 19 points for Memphis,
who earned just their third win in 10 games.
Pau Gasol added 16 points and 11 rebounds to the Memphis cause
while Mike Miller potted 17 points and Shane Battier 12.
Tracy McGrady had a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds in the
loss.
It was only the 15th time this season Yao and leading-scorer
Tracy McGrady played together. But the rare pairing wasn't enough
for the Rockets to maintain an early burst. They let the deficit
slip to double-digits in the second half, leading to their third
straight loss.?
Yao, Houston's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer,
hadn't played since undergoing surgery December 19 to clean out an
infection in his left big toe. The Rockets were 6-15 without him in
the lineup.
The 7-foot-6 center is averaging 19.9 points and 9.0 rebounds in
22 games.
(CRI February 1, 2006)
