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Yao leads team effort

Last year the Dallas Mavericks swept all four games against the Texan neighbors, the Houston rockets, on their way to the NBA Finals series. Yao Ming and his teammates made sure at least the sweep would not repeat, on the Rockets` quest to making an effort for the title themselves. Ming scored 36 points leading Houston to a 107-76 victory over the Mavericks in the Rockets` home opener.

On a weak night for All Star Tracy McGrady, who scored only 8 points and four assists, one time leaving the game with a cut tongue, it was up to the team to step up. Point guard Rafer Alston had two three pointers in the opening 12-0 run, setting the tone for the game and his personal performance. He finished with 14 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds.

Alston also had the task of defending Jason Terry, who finished the game with only one point. The Mavs` Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 and Josh Howard added 16, but the team shot a poor 41 percent from the floor and committed 22 turnovers, on a night they would rather forget