Yao, Wang improve in rematch Clippers center keys 7-0 second-quarter run, scores eight in victory By JANNY HU Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle Rockets 7-5 center Yao Ming went toe to toe -- or at least cheek to chin -- with Clippers 7-0 center Wang Zhizhi on Saturday night. The twin towers from China met for the second time this season, and for both countrymen, the rematch offered a little vindication. For Yao, who twice had the ball swiped away by Wang when the teams met on Nov. 24 in Los Angeles, the two turnovers were replaced by two points -- courtesy of a turnaround jumper over Wang at the end of the second quarter. For Wang, who went scoreless in 11 minutes during the first outing, the donut was replaced by a solid eight-point effort on 3-of-4 shooting from the field. Wang keyed a 7-0 Clippers run with back-to-back field goals to open the second quarter to extract the greatest payback -- a 94-83 victory over the Rockets. "It was interesting," said Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich. "We had international players last night who decided the game with (Memphis' Pao Gasol), and it's great. To see players in (different countries) like this is good. Who knows what will be next?" The Rockets can only hope another game against the injury-riddled Clippers isn't forthcoming. Houston has now lost five straight to the Clippers, who "held" Yao to an unflashy 16 points and nine rebounds -- with four turnovers -- in his 36 minutes. Chalk it up to a little bit of insider information. Clippers coach Alvin Gentry and his staff tapped Wang -- who has spent the past five years playing with Yao on the Chinese national team -- for some advanced scouting reports, and it paid off. "(Wang) helped us tremendously," Gentry said. "He told us his two best moves; he told us about his pump fakes and head fakes. So we were probably as prepared as any team that's played him. But on the other side of that, you can see it doesn't matter. The guy is going to be a great player. "Every game I see him, I think he gets better and smarter -- his up-and-under moves and things like that. I think we're probably doing as good a job as you can do on him, considering his talent." Wang did his part -- although the two were matched against each other for only about two minutes. Wang had no impact in the first game, other than joking and jostling with Yao as the two were lined up at the free-throw line, but he nailed a 3-pointer and a jump shot over Moochie Norris moments after checking into the game in the second quarter. Wang also added an eye-popping drive in the fourth quarter, snaking around several Rockets before laying in a shot off the backboard. Wang finished with eight points and a rebound in 11 minutes for his second consecutive strong outing. He notched season highs in points (nine), rebounds (three) and minutes (19) against Dallas on Tuesday. "Obviously, he made his first shot, a 3-pointer, and that loosened him up," Gentry said. "I thought he had a lot of really good moves to the basket for a 7-foot guy. I think people have to understand that just like Yao, (Wang) is a really young guy. He's going to get better. We'll work with him individually, and he'll get stronger. He's going to become a better player, too." Wang became the NBA's first Chinese player when the Mavericks selected him in the second round of the 1999 draft. He spent two seasons languishing on the Mavericks' bench before testing the free-agent waters this past summer. He traveled to California and joined the Golden State Warriors' summer-league squad instead of joining Yao and the Chinese national team in preparation for the World Championships -- which ultimately cost him his spot on the national team -- but Wang said the move was worth it. Wang signed with the Clippers in October and says he is much happier. "I like Los Angeles. There are more Chinese people there than in Dallas or Houston," he said. "In Dallas, I didn't get as much opportunity to shoot and show what I can do."
