Yao Ming scores 20 as Rockets beats the Wizards 75-71
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-24 12:57

HOUSTON (AP) - Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy didn't see much to like in his team's latest pre-season win.

"That was horrific, it was abominable, it was unwatchable," Van Gundy said after the Rockets beat the Washington Wizards 75-71 Sunday night. Yao Ming scored 20 points in 24 minutes and Juwan Howard added 14 points as Houston improved to 5-1. Van Gundy has been warning for more than a week that the Rockets' pre-season record is deceiving - that the victories are masking serious deficiencies.

"We looked old tonight. Somehow, we've got to find some life to us," he said.

His players are starting to agree. Tracy McGrady scored only two points on a pair of free throws and watched almost all of the second half from the bench.

"It wasn't fun to watch, I'll tell you," McGrady said. "We've still got a long way to go to get ourselves together."

As bad as the Rockets looked, the Wizards were worse, shooting 36 per cent (26 of 72) and losing for the fifth time in seven pre-season contests.

But coach Eddie Jordan saw more positives from his team than Van Gundy saw from his. Jordan praised the Wizards' defence and thought they improved in their offensive execution.

"We accomplished a lot of our goals tonight," Jordan said. "We just didn't win the game."

Caron Butler went 8-of-14 from the field and scored 22 points for the Wizards (2-5). Butler, acquired from the Lakers in August, likes the new offensive system he's joining.