HOUSTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Yao Ming had 21 points and 12 rebounds Saturday night as the Houston Rockets improved to 3-0 with an 89-80 victory over Portland.
The Rockets spurted to a 25-12 lead after the first quarter, and seemed comfortably ahead, before being out-scored, 34-27, in the fourth, which made the game interesting.
It is the first time Houston won its first three games since the 1996-97 season.
Tracy McGrady had 20 points, six assists, and three rebounds. Houston reserve Mike James added 17 points.
Portland's Brandon Roy had a game-high 23 points and five assists. LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and eight rebounds, and Martell Webster added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who lost for the third time in their season-opening three-game road trip.
