Box Score

 

HOUSTON (91)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
K Thomas            36   2-7   0-0   3-8   2   5    4
G Rice              40  5-14   3-5   2-6   3   1   15
Y Ming              16   6-8   2-3   1-3   0   5   14
J Hawkins           23   3-7   2-2   1-5   1   1    8
S Francis           43  4-13   6-8   2-9   7   1   14
M Taylor            13   2-7   0-0   1-2   1   3    4
K Cato              31  9-11   4-8  5-12   0   4   22
T Morris             8   0-3   0-0   0-1   0   1    0
M Norris            30   3-7   4-6   1-6   5   0   10
E Griffin          DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
B Nachbar          DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
T Maddox           DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 34-77 21-32 16-52  19  21   91
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.442, FT-.656. 3-Point Goals:
2-9, .222 (G Rice 2-5, T Morris 0-2, M Norris
0-2). Team Rebounds: 12. Blocked Shots:11 (K 
Cato 6, S Francis 2, Y Ming 2, K Thomas). 
Turnovers:15 (M Taylor 4, S Francis 4, K Cato
2, J Hawkins 2, K Thomas 2, M Norris). 
Steals: 5 (S Francis 2, M Norris, J Hawkins, 
M Taylor).


GOLDEN STATE (84)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
T Murphy            35  6-14   0-2  6-13   1   5   12
A Jamison           40  4-15   7-8  5-10   3   3   15
E Dampier           20   3-7   0-2   2-3   0   4    6
J Richardson        37  7-21   0-0   3-8   2   3   17
G Arenas            40  6-16   7-9   2-5   9   4   20
D Fortson            7   1-1   1-2   2-4   0   2    3
A Foyle             22   2-6   2-3   2-3   0   1    6
M Dunleavy          19   0-4   0-0   2-3   0   2    0
J Welsch            10   0-3   2-2   0-1   2   0    2
E Boykins            1   0-0   0-0   0-0   0   0    0
O Torres             9   1-4   1-2   1-1   0   1    3
D Oliver           DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 30-91 20-30 25-51  17  25   84
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.330, FT-.667. 3-Point Goals:
4-16, .250 (A Jamison 0-1, J Richardson 3-7, 
G Arenas 1-4, M Dunleavy 0-3, O Torres 0-1). 
Team Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:7 (E Dampier
3, A Foyle 2, J Richardson, M Dunleavy). 
Turnovers:13 (J Richardson 3, E Dampier 2, M 
Dunleavy 2, T Murphy 2, D Fortson, A Jamison,
J Welsch, G Arenas). Steals: 6 (G Arenas 2, J
Richardson, O Torres, M Dunleavy, J Welsch).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON              18  23  26  24   -  91
GOLDEN STATE         18  22  18  26   -  84
------------------------------------------- 

Technical fouls: Golden State - 1 (Defensive 
Three, 5:22 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,401. T: 2:08. 
Officials: Bernie Fryer, Leon Wood, Nolan 
Fine.

Extended Box

 

HOUSTON (91) AT GOLDEN STATE (84)

HOUSTON

                                               REBOUNDS                        
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
K THOMAS          F    36    2-7      0-0      3   5   8    2   5   0   2    4
G RICE            F    40    5-14     3-5      2   4   6    3   1   0   0   15
Y MING            C    16    6-8      2-3      1   2   3    0   5   0   0   14
J HAWKINS         G    23    3-7      2-2      1   4   5    1   1   1   2    8
S FRANCIS         G    43    4-13     6-8      2   7   9    7   1   2   4   14
M TAYLOR               13    2-7      0-0      1   1   2    1   3   1   4    4
K CATO                 31    9-11     4-8      5   7  12    0   4   0   2   22
T MORRIS                8    0-3      0-0      0   1   1    0   1   0   0    0
M NORRIS               30    3-7      4-6      1   5   6    5   0   1   1   10
E GRIFFIN             DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
B NACHBAR             DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
T MADDOX              DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
  
TOTALS                240   34-77    21-32    16  36  52   19  21   5  15   91
                            (.442)  (.656)  TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 18 (11 PTS)    

GOLDEN STATE

                                               REBOUNDS                         
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
T MURPHY          F    35    6-14     0-2      6   7  13    1   5   0   2   12
A JAMISON         F    40    4-15     7-8      5   5  10    3   3   0   1   15
E DAMPIER         C    20    3-7      0-2      2   1   3    0   4   0   2    6
J RICHARDSON      G    37    7-21     0-0      3   5   8    2   3   1   3   17
G ARENAS          G    40    6-16     7-9      2   3   5    9   4   2   1   20
D FORTSON               7    1-1      1-2      2   2   4    0   2   0   1    3
A FOYLE                22    2-6      2-3      2   1   3    0   1   0   0    6
M DUNLEAVY             19    0-4      0-0      2   1   3    0   2   1   2    0
J WELSCH               10    0-3      2-2      0   1   1    2   0   1   1    2
E BOYKINS               1    0-0      0-0      0   0   0    0   0   0   0    0
O TORRES                9    1-4      1-2      1   0   1    0   1   1   0    3
D OLIVER              DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
  
TOTALS                240   30-91    20-30    25  26  51   17  25   6  13   84
                            (.330)  (.667)  TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 14 (15 PTS)    
  
   HOUSTON            18   23   26   24   -   91
   GOLDEN STATE       18   22   18   26   -   84
  
BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - K CATO 6, S FRANCIS 2, Y MING 2, K THOMAS.
GOLDEN STATE - E DAMPIER 3, A FOYLE 2, J RICHARDSON, M DUNLEAVY.

3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 2-9 (.222), G RICE 2-5, T MORRIS 0-2, M NORRIS 0-
2. GOLDEN STATE 4-16 (.250), A JAMISON 0-1, J RICHARDSON 3-7, G ARENAS 1-
4, M DUNLEAVY 0-3, O TORRES 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: GOLDEN STATE - DEFENSIVE THREE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BERNIE FRYER, LEON WOOD, NOLAN FINE.
A - 18,401. T - 2:08.

Game Story

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Houston Rockets continue 
to own the Golden State Warriors at the Arena in Oakland.

Kelvin Cato contributed season highs of 22 points, 12 rebounds
and six blocks and Steve Francis added 14, nine and seven
assists as the Rockets defeated the Warriors for the 14th
straight meeting in Oakland, 91-84.

"Cato was phenomenal," said Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich,
whose team improved to 8-6, including 1-2 on their five-game
road trip.  "He gave us a real big lift with his energy and
rebounding.  He was just what the doctor ordered.  He just did
everything well tonight to help us get this important win.  This
win helps us keep our heads above water."

"I'm out there playing hard and if the opportunity presents
itself like where I was getting good passes where I could
finish, good plays where they were going toward the basket, I'm
going to try to finish them," said Cato, who made 9-of-11 shots.
"I mean, in the past, I've been missing shots like that -
today I just made them.  I'm listening to guys on the team, like
Glen (Rice), Mo (Taylor) and Kenny (Thomas), who are telling me
to look for my shot as well as keep playing hard."

Rice scored 15 points and rookie Yao Ming added 14 in 17 minutes
for Houston, which has won 19 of 20 road matchups with Golden
State and 33 of 39 overall.

"I think I could have played better defensively," Yao, who had
just three rebounds, said through an interpreter.  "I don't want
to be just an offensive player.  I want to be responsible for
my defensive role, too.  I don't think I have that much
experience yet."

"He made a couple of nice moves tonight, and got a couple of
easy baskets," Warriors center Erick Dampier said of Yao.  "He's
a talented young player, and if he works at it he'll be pretty
good.  He played good enough for them to win tonight."

Gilbert Arenas scored 20 points, Jason Richardson added 17,
Antawn Jamison 15 and 10 rebounds and Troy Murphy 12 and 13 for
Golden State, which shot just 33 percent (30-of-91) from the
field.

"We just weren't hitting our shots tonight," said Richardson,
who made only 7-of-21 attempts.  "When we went to the basket,
there were a few times when we didn't get the call.  You're not
always going to get the call, though, and you need to be able to
play through that."

"I was fairly happy with our shot selection tonight," Warriors
coach Eric Musselman said.  "I just thought we came out a little
passive.  Shooting 33 percent is certainly indicative of that."

The Rockets led, 67-58, entering the fourth quarter before the
Warriors climbed within 72-69 on a 3-pointer by Arenas with 5:31
to play.

But Moochie Norris countered with a jumper and Francis added a
pair of free throws and a reverse layup after a spectacular
crossover dribble that froze rookie Mike Dunleavy. The Warriors
got no closer than seven points thereafter.

"We had good looks at the basket and they're just not falling
for us right now," Arenas said.  "We had four days to rest our
bodies and we couldn't get it done tonight.  Apparently we just
weren't ready to play."

Houston took the lead for good, 20-18, on a turnaround jumper by
Cato 1:03 into the second quarter.  The Rockets led, 41-40, at
halftime before extending their advantage to nine points
entering the fourth quarter.

The crowd of 18,401 was the Warriors' largest all season,
largely due to the presence of Yao, who made an announcement on
the Jumbotron in Mandarin between the first and second quarters
advertising his second game against the Warriors later in the
season.

"Yao is a big-time player and a huge factor both offensively and
defensively, but Cato was extremely effective," Musselman said.
"We didn't play very good weak-side defense and he drove to the
basket."

"It was just the great passing by my point guards and everybody
on the team," Cato said.  "It had nothing to do with me. I'm in
the right place at the right time and it's basketball.  It
wasn't anything they weren't doing out there defensively.  Their
goal was to try to stop Steve and they did a good job of that
and other people had to step up."