National Basketball Association

Yao, Rockets pull away from Pistons in double OT

Published Mar. 19, 2009 6:58 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Houston Rockets turned to Yao Ming and finally pulled away from the undermanned Detroit Pistons.

Yao scored 31 points - eight in the extra periods - and Ron Artest added 26 to lead the Rockets to a 106-101 double-overtime victory Wednesday night against the Pistons, who played without injured stars Richard Hamilton (groin), Allen Iverson (back) and Rasheed Wallace (calf).