BOSTON: Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy had no need to bench centre Yao Ming against the Boston Celtics for a second time in four days.

On Wednesday Yao contributed 21 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks to lead the Rockets to a 95-80 triumph over the Celtics.

In a 97-93 home loss to the Celtics on Sunday, Van Gundy benched the 7-foot-6 Yao for much of the second half after he scored just six points in 23 minutes.

Cuttino Mobley added 24 points for the Rockets, who never trailed as they avoided being swept by the Celtics for the first time since the 1990-91 campaign.

The Rockets took exception to what they felt was the Celtics"excessive celebration after their win on Sunday.

"You can't talk to a team like they got their number,'' Mobley said. "When was the last time they beat us, besides the other day" They were saying a lot of things, a lot of towel-waving, a lot of talking.''

Yao scored 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting in the first half to help Houston to a 47-42 edge at the break.

"Yao did a great job,'' Van Gundy said. "I thought he passed the ball better. He was more active and assertive but also, particularly in the first half, we passed the ball much better. I think we passed the ball better as a team (and) Yao hit a couple of jump shots. He seems to play better when he is not locked into that low post all the time.''

"I think we played great on the inside today, including getting the ball out of the paint to the guys on the outside,'' Yao said through an interpreter. "It was an outstanding day for us. I think that we were just finding the weaknesses in their defense, and we knew that if we passed the ball and found the open man, we'd have our opportunity.''

Steve Francis and Scott Padgett scored seven apiece in the third quarter to open a 69-56 advantage heading into the final period, and Boston got no closer than 12 points in the final minute.

Mike James scored 20 points to pace the Celtics, who received just four points on 1-of-10 shooting from superstar Paul Pierce. At the end of the game, Pierce sat on the bench with an ice pack on his left hand.

"I just had a really difficult time feeling my hand,'' Pierce said.

"I got hit early in the game and I hurt it last game. There was pain in my left hand where I couldn't even touch or catch the ball. It was really difficult for me.

"I wasn't even a factor. It's just unfortunate because you hate to have little nagging injuries like this, but definitely it has an effect.''

It was the first time since a game against Dallas on November 15, 2002 that Pierce did not reach double figures, a streak of 111 games.

"It's hard, without a doubt,'' Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said of winning without an effective Pierce. "He's our All-Star, he's our main scorer, and we can win with him having an off night, but it's certainly more difficult with him not being able to knock down a shot.''

"When you have one of the top 10 players in the league have a bad night, it is most likely good defense on your part and missing some shots he would normally make,'' Van Gundy said. "We will give some credit to our guys and some to a bad night.''

Celtics reserve Ricky Davis, who scored a season-high 33 points in a 111-103 loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday, had 12 in this one.

(China Daily 01/16/2004 page16)