Knicks 99, Rockets 83

December 28, 2002

HOUSTON (AP) -- In the end, the Houston Rockets were looking up to the New York Knicks.

The Knicks made up for their lack of height by shooting 47 percent from the field and scrapping for rebounds in a 99-83 victory Friday night. 
 
``We're small,'' Knicks coach Don Chaney said. ``We know that. But we played big tonight.''

Chaney was especially pleased with the play of his relatively small centers, 6-foot-9 Kurt Thomas and 6-11 Michael Doleac, against Houston's 7-6 rookie Yao Ming. Yao had 17 points, seven on free throws, but had only five rebounds and one blocked shot.

``Kurt and Michael were tremendous,'' Chaney said. ``Clarence (Weatherspoon) also had a great game.

``Doleac was fantastic. He was fearless. He did some great things defensively, like moving his feet and rebounding, that really made a difference.''

Doleac had a season-high 15 points and five rebounds and played much of the time on Yao.

``I tried to push him out as hard as I could and not let him set up on offense,'' Doleac said. ``I pushed hard and fought him all game. He has great control of his body. He's a very talented player.''

Doleac also had a slam over 6-11 Rockets backup Kelvin Cato.

``That won't happen often,'' Doleac said. ``I'm not the most athletic guy in the league. The stars have to be in just a certain line and everything else has to fall in place for me to do that.''

One game after shooting a season-high 53-percent from the field in a loss to Utah on Monday, the Rockets couldn't find the rim against New York.

No Houston player shot better than 50-percent, except for rookie Bostjan Nachbar who made the only shot he took in the final minute. Eddie Griffin was 2-of-10 and Cuttino Mobley was 4-of-14 for the Rockets, who shot a franchise-low 29.5 percent from the field, including 10-of-37 the second half.

``We battled,'' Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. ``It's just sometimes the ball doesn't go in. We had several guys who just couldn't get the ball inthe basket the way we usually do.''

Notes

The Rockets' previous franchise low for field-goal shooting percentage was 29.9 percent against Sacramento on March 28, 2002. ... The Knicks, who play at Dallas on Saturday, are 2-3 in the first of back-to-back games and 0-4 inthe second games.

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