Dec. 30 - The Houston Rockets showed they can play dominant defence, even without Chinese center Yao Ming.

 

Shane Battier made a career-high seven 3-pointers en route to 23 points as the Rockets downed the New Jersey Nets 96-71.

 

Houston won for the first time in two games without leading scorer and rebounder Yao, who is sidelined at least six weeks with a broken right leg. The Rockets entered the game allowing a league-low 90.2 points per game and had little trouble stopping the sluggish Nets.

 

New Jersey posted its second-lowest scoring game of the season, narrowly surpassing its season-low 68-point effort against Portland on November 18.

 

The Nets had just 32 points in the second half and stumbled to their most lopsided loss of the season.

 

Battier helped contain New Jersey leading scorer Vince Carter, who was held to 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Richard Jefferson made just 5-of-15 shots en route to 11 points as the Nets were limited to a season-low 33 percent from the floor.

 

Battier eclipsed his previous career high of five 3-pointers - set four times including twice this season. Tracy McGrady had 17 points in his second game since returning from a back injury and Juwan Howard collected 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets.