All-Star center Yao Ming scored 31 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Houston Rockets managed a 100-94 away win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

 

For 47 minutes, the Rockets could not quite shake the Suns. But in the final 30 seconds, Steve Francis powered to the rim for a tough layup and stripped the ball from Amare Stoudemire to send the Rockets to a hard-fought victory over the Suns before 18,422 at US Airways Center.

 

Yao grabbed the last rebound and, with the final three seconds ticking away, he found Francis and gave him the ball. Francis already had taken the game.

 

"I'm proud of him," Yao said. "He found himself, and he played a great game. I'm happy to play with him again. I'm happy for him. He came a long way."

 

Francis saw action for only the fourth time in 16 games this season. But he had by far his greatest impact to help give the Rockets just their fourth win in their past 16 games against the Suns.

 

"It showed that (coach Rick Adelman) is slowly developing confidence in me," said Francis, who had nine points and seven assists in 27 minutes. "That's what I've done throughout my career, help teams finish games."

 

The Rockets had to do many things well and differently to get in that position, starting with the most obvious shortcomings in their 115-105 loss to the Suns on November 17 -- Yao's offense and everyone's defense.

 

Yao still had trouble, especially early. Seeing the customary Phoenix double teams, Yao had four of his six turnovers in the first quarter. But he more effectively freed himself from the Suns' defense to make 12 of 19 shots for 31 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.

 

"The first game we played against the Suns, we did not have (Tracy McGrady) so they sent a lot of people to double team, particularly Shawn Marion jumping around," sad Yao, who was 4-of-16 that night. "I could not even catch the ball. Tracy was back so I got the ball close to the area I usually shoot the ball. And the perimeter guys knocked down jumpers."

 

The Detroit Pistons raced to a 109-74 victory over Cleveland after the Cavaliers standout player LeBron James was injured on Wednesday.

 

James sprained his left index finger in the second quarter and the Pistons outscored the Cavaliers by 30 points in the second half.

 

"A win never loses its luster," Detroit's Chauncey Billups told reporters. "Was it less exciting to watch with LeBron not in there, yes."

 

James was injured when he drove to the basket with 4:41 left in the second quarter and was fouled by Detroit's Nazr Mohammed.

 

Mohammed reached for the ball but instead slammed James's left hand. James appeared to be in pain and but made two free throws and he remained in the game until the half.

 

X-rays were negative and James was re-evaluated on Thursday, team officials said.

 

The loss ended a four-game winning streak for the Cavaliers.

 

Richard Hamilton led Detroit with 18 points. Tayshaun Prince added 16 and Antonio McDyess 14.

 

James topped Cleveland with 15 points despite not playing in the second half.

 

Without James, the Pistons, who trailed 48-43 at halftime, scored 29 points to the Cavaliers' 16 in the third quarter, shooting 57.9 per cent.

 

The fourth quarter was a repeat of the third with Detroit scoring 32 points to Cleveland's 15.

 

"It's tough being down already trying to fight back without the guy that leads you," Cleveland's Drew Gooden told reporters.

 

The Toronto Raptors beat the Memphis Grizzlies 103-91 but the victory was costly. Chris Bosh left the game with a strained right groin and Andrea Bargnani bruised his right knee. Anthony Parker paced the Raptors with 19 points.

 

The Dallas Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 109-103 home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 27 points. Al Jefferson had 31 points and 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

 

(Agencies via China Daily November 30, 2007)