Rockets trounce Spurs 84-63
(Agencies)
Updated: 2003-10-25 12:30

Yao Ming had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 84-63 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night in the final exhibition game for both teams.

Steve Francis and Jim Jackson each added 14 points for the Rockets, who shot 49 percent from the field.

Tim Duncan scored 12 points and Hedo Turkoglu added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Spurs, who made just 22 of 77 shots (29 percent).

The Rockets took the lead for good, 7-6, on a three-point play by Kelvin Cato in the game's opening minutes. They led by as many as 27 points after going on a 12-0 run midway through the fourth quarter.

The Spurs, who trailed by 10 at the half, scored only 12 points in the third quarter on 4-for-17 shooting. In the fourth, San Antonio shot 4-for-18.

Houston built a 21-12 lead late in the first period, but Malik Rose made two baskets and a pair of free throws to cut the Rockets' advantage to 25-21 in the opening minute of the second quarter.

A layup and a dunk by Yao and a 3-pointer from Bostjan Nachbar extended Houston's lead to 34-24, and the Rockets led by double digits for most of the rest of the game.

Francis finished the half with 14 points and Yao had 13, all but two coming in the second quarter.