Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming go Head to Head in Miami

Written by Freddy Miranda

Sunday, 12 November 2006

Just when the match up between Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming seemed implausible, Friday night set up a nice, early-season showdown. Yao warmed up with Knicks Eddy Curry. O'Neal returned from injury in the Heat win in New Jersey. Suddenly, a match up the NBA has not seen since the 2004-05 season seems worth watching. The centers were never healthy at the same time last season but with the Rockets coming around and the Heat looking a little more like the NBA champions they are, this might be a good early-season test. Houston visits Miami Sunday night.

On Friday, Yao Min blocked seven shots, matching his career high. He grabbed 17 rebounds. Yao tormented Eddy Curry and dominated the Knicks enough to carry the Rockets to a 103-94 win on Friday finishing with 35 points. The big Chinese center sparked the Rockets' best offensive yet this season.

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The Knicks were unable to slow Yao down. Later twisting their defense around him, leaving open shots everywhere else. Yao hit 15 of 21 shots and also had a steal and two assists as the Rockets beat the Knicks. Stephon Marbury scored 22 points, Jamal Crawford had 18 and Quentin Richardson added 16 for the Knicks. In spite of this Eddy Curry, out muscled by Yao, went 2-for-11 from the field and scored seven points with five rebounds.

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The New Jersey Nets lost to Miami, 113-106, Friday, the second over the Nets in a row. Miami won on its home floor over the Nets last week. Dwyane Wade was his usual brilliant self for Miami, scoring 34 points and out-dueling Vince Carter, who scored 33 in the loss for the Nets, despite a cut on his right hand in the third quarter. Udonis Haslem scored a career-high 28 points for Miami.

The Nets got 16 points each from Jefferson and Antoine Wright. Jefferson later left with a sprained ankle. Shaquille O'Neal returned after sitting two games for the Heat with a bruised left knee and scored 13 points. After a two-game rest, center Shaquille O'Neal returned to action Friday. But he didn't look good.

O'Neal, fouled out, finished 5-for-13 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the free throw line for 13 points. Many of his shots were bricks. O'Neal was 3-for-4 on free throws and his pair of free throws gave the Heat a 98-93 lead. He was 3-for-11 shooting in the first half with the made field goals coming on a dunk and a pair of lay-ups.

Udonis Haslem had 10 in the fourth quarter, as the Heat surged in the second half to defeat New Jersey, 113-106, at Continental Airlines Arena. Dwayne Wade led all scorers with 34 points. Antoine Walker (15 points, 10 in the fourth quarter), Shaquille O'Neal (13 points) and Gary Payton (16 points) rounded out a starting lineup that all reached double-figures for the first time this season.

We like the Heat -4 at home against the Rockets and we also like that over. Look for this game to be intense and action packed. Good Luck!