YAO Ming scored 21 points and added 10 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 82-71 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in their season opener last night at home.

Ron Artest added 16 points in his debut and the Rockets overcame poor shooting to beat the Grizzlies.

Luis Scola had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who were 28-for-76 (36.8 percent) from the field. They also went 5-for-16 from 3-point range and were outrebounded 49-44.

Rudy Gay scored 20 and Darrell Arthur had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who've lost all eight season openers since moving to Memphis in 2001.

Memphis Grizzlies' Marc Gasol, left, of Spain, knocks the ball away from Houston Rockets' Yao Ming, of China, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game yesterday in Houston.[Photo: Shanghai Daily]

Knicks 120, Heat 115

Jamal Crawford scored 29 points, Zach Randolph added 20, and the Knicks beat the Miami Heat 120-115 on Wednesday night to win their first game under Mike D'Antoni.

Wilson Chandler had 17 points and nine rebounds and New York, relying just as much on solid defense as D'Antoni's uptempo offense, seized control late in the second quarter. They opened a 23-point lead in the third, then held on after the Heat got within three points in the final minute.

Dwyane Wade had 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in his return to regular-season action for the Heat and rookie Michael Beasley, the No. 2 pick in the draft, had only nine points on 4-of-14 shooting for the Heat.

Bucks 98, Thunder 87

At Oklahoma City, Michael Redd, Richard Jefferson and Charlie Villanueva each scored 20 points and the Milwaukee Bucks spoiled the Thunder's debut with a 98-87 win.

Playing their opener after moving from Seattle in the offseason, the Thunder made it interesting by cutting a 24-point deficit to 11 in the fourth quarter.

The late rally gave a sellout crowd of 19,136 something to cheer about after a miserable start by the Thunder.

Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant was held scoreless in the first half, finishing with 12 points on 5-for-14 shooting.

Nets 95, Wizards 85

At Washington, Vince Carter scored 21 points to lead his rebuilding New Jersey Nets to a 95-85 season-opening victory over a Wizards team missing Gilbert Arenas.

Carter, elected captain before the game, made a 16-foot fadeaway jumper over Caron Butler to put the visitors ahead 90-82 with a minute left and effectively settle the game.

Carter had plenty of help, with 17 points from Yi Jianlian and 14 from former Wizards player Jarvis Hayes.

Six Wizards scored in double-figures, led by Jamison and DeShawn Stevenson with 14 apiece. All-Star forward Caron Butler shot 3-for-11 and finished with 13 points.

Hawks 99, Magic 85

At Orlando, Florida Joe Johnson scored 25 points to help the Atlanta Hawks hold off a late Magic rally in the season opener for both teams.

Dwight Howard had 22 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Magic, who lost their home opener for only the second time in the last nine seasons. Mickael Pietrus added 20 points.

Josh Smith chipped in 17 for the Hawks, who held the Magic to 37 percent shooting.

Raptors 95, 76ers 84

At Philadelphia, Chris Bosh had 27 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Toronto Raptors in a game moved forward to allow home fans time later to watch the Phillies win the baseball World Series.

Jermaine O'Neal added 17 and Jason Kapono had 15 for the Raptors. Lou Williams scored 16 points, Andre Iguodala added 15, Elton Brand had 14 points and 13 rebounds in his Sixers debut and Samuel Dalembert pulled down 17 rebounds.

Timberwolves 98, Kings 96

At Minneapolis, Kevin Love made an impressive debut with 12 points and nine rebounds and Al Jefferson had 21 points and 10 rebounds to help the Timberwolves beat the rebuilding Sacramento Kings.

John Salmons scored 21 of his 24 points in the second half and rookie Jason Thompson had 18 points and 10 boards for the Kings.

Minnesota coach Randy Wittman showed a lot of faith in the fifth overall pick from UCLA. Though Love didn't get the start, he was inserted with the offense growing stagnant in the fourth quarter, and immediately made a difference.

With the Wolves clinging to an 81-80 lead, Love threw down a dunk to get the crowd going, then a little hook shot and converted the three-point play to give Minnesota a 90-84 lead with 6:17 to go.

Suns 103, Spurs 98

At San Antonio, Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points and four other Phoenix players scored in double figures for the Suns, giving Terry Porter a victory in his coaching debut.

Tim Duncan and Tony Parker each scored 32 points for the Spurs, who were playing without guard Manu Ginobili who is out until December after ankle surgery.

Pistons 100, Pacers 94

At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Tayshaun Prince scored 19 points as part of a balanced attack to give new Pistons coach Michael Curry a 100-94 win over the Indiana Pacers in the opener for both teams.

Danny Granger led the new-look Pacers with 33 points.

Chauncey Billups had 13 points and seven assists, Richard Hamilton scored 15 and Rasheed Wallace added nine points and seven rebounds for the Pistons.

Jazz 98, Nuggets 94

At Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer had 25 points and 14 rebounds, Andrei Kirilenko added 16 points in his new reserve role and the Jazz opened the season with a 98-94 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Mehmet Okur had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Ronnie Price finished with five assists starting in place of Deron Williams, who is out with a sprained ankle.

Denver rallied from a 14-point deficit to tie it in the fourth quarter, but the Jazz went 13-for-16 from the foul line in the final period to hold on.

Allen Iverson had 18 points and eight assists to lead the Nuggets, who were missing star Carmelo Anthony while he served the first of a two-game suspension from a DUI arrest over the summer.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily October 31, 2008)