Associated Press
The NBA roundup …
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó While Yao Ming won the showdown with fellow Chinese Olympian Yi Jianlian, the smallest player on the court stole the show from the 7-footers.
Yao had 24 points and 16 rebounds and Aaron Brooks tied his career-high with 22 points as the Houston Rockets won their season-high fourth straight game with a 114-91 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Monday night in a game that was televised live to China.
With Yao clogging the lane, the Rockets limited the Nets to a season-low 13 points in the first quarter in taking a 29-13 lead and never being threatened again. Houston shot 58 percent for the game, including 9-of-19 from 3-point range.
Keyon Dooling had 17 points to lead New Jersey.
Lakers 105, Grizzlies 96
MEMPHIS, Tenn. ó Kobe Bryant scored 36 points and keyed a late rally to help the Los Angeles Lakers snap a two-game losing streak with a victory over the Grizzlies.
The Lakers trailed by 93-88 with 3:08 left, but closed the game on a 17-3 run, including 10 points from Bryant to overtake the Grizzlies down the stretch.
Bryant was 14-of-23 from the field, part of Los Angeles shooting 54 percent on the night.
Pau Gasol had 15 points, seven rebounds and had six assists in his return to Memphis. Gasol played six-plus seasons with the Grizzlies before being traded to Los Angeles in February.
Rudy Gay led Memphis with 23 points.
Magic 113, Warriors 81
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) ó Jameer Nelson scored 22 points going 9-for-9 from the field to help the Magic rout the Warriors.
Rashard Lewis scored 21 points and Dwight Howard added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, who held Golden State to just 31.9 percent shooting for the game.
Jamal Crawford led the Warriors with 18 points, but was 7-for-21 from the field.
Spurs 101, Kings 85
SAN ANTONIO ó Tony Parker committed five turnovers in the first 10 minutes but overcame the rough start by scoring 18 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a victory over the reeling Kings.
Parker was 8-of-17 from the floor and added six assists in 28 minutes as San Antonio (17-10) won for the eighth time in 10 games.
Sacramento (7-22) are 3-17 since opening the season 4-5. They dropped to 2-13 on the road.
Nuggets 97, Trail Blazers 89
DENVER ó Nene scored 19 points and had 11 rebounds, Chauncey Billups added 19 points and 10 assists, and the Denver Nuggets overcame the absence of Carmelo Anthony to beat Portland.