LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Yao Ming had a breakthrough game Sunday night with a season-high 20 points as the Houston Rockets survived an electrifying performance by Kobe Bryant and beat the struggling Los Angeles Lakers, 93-89.
Yao, the top pick in the 2002 NBA draft, has struggled as he tries to learn American ways and NBA basketball. On TNT's postgame show Thursday night, co-host Charles Barkley said he would "kiss his (rear)" if Yao scored 19 points in a game.
The 7-5 rookie from China was 9-of-9 from the field, displaying an up-and-under move and a deadly perimeter jumper, several of the skills that had scouts raving about him over the summer.
Bryant won shootouts with Yao in the second quarter and Steve Francis in the fourth period on his way to a season-high 46 points, but came up short on an uncontested finger roll with Los Angeles trailing, 90-89, with nine seconds left.
Cuttino Mobley then made two free throws for a three-point cushion and Bryant missed a contested three-pointer with one second left.
Francis scored 27 points for the Rockets, who ended a seven-game skid to the Lakers. Maurice Taylor had nine points and Francis added five to fuel a 17-4 run, much of which came with Bryant on the bench, as Houston took a 76-68 lead with just over eight minutes left.
Bryant energized a comeback, scoring 13 straight Lakers points, including a three-pointer to slice the deficit to 87-86 with 1:46 to go.
The Rockets got a nifty pass from rookie Joaquin Hawkins to Yao, who converted a layup and fouled out Samaki Walker in the process. Yao completed the three-point play for his final points with 60 seconds to go.
Derek Fisher snapped Bryant's string with a three-pointer, and the Lakers got the ball back when Houston had a shot-clock violation. Bryant was isolated and took it straight to the basket, but back-rimmed one of his easiest looks.
