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Yao, Rockets welcome Yi, Bucks

Nov 9, 2007 - 3:47 PM Milwaukee (2-2) at Houston (4-1) 8:30 pm EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- After being the face of Chinese basketball the past five seasons, Yao Ming has been joined.

Yao and the Rockets face fellow countryman rookie Yi Jianlian and the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

Yao, who was the third Chinese player to play in the NBA when he made his debut on October 30, 2002, has become the best center in the NBA. The 27-year-old, selected No. 1 overall by Houston five years ago, is averaging 21.2 points and 11.0 rebounds.

The 7-5, 310-pound big man has sparked the Rockets to four wins, including an 89-81 victory over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. In that game, Yao had 28 points, 13 rebounds and six assists to deal the Spurs their first loss.

Now comes Yi - the sixth overall pick in June's draft, whose been up and down in his first four games. After the 7-0, 238-pounder had a combined 11 points in his first two contests, Yi has averaged 14 points and six rebounds in his last two games, both Bucks wins.

On Tuesday, he had 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in the Bucks' 112-85 victory over the Toronto Raptors and for the season, the youngster is scoring 9.8 points per game.

The Rockets have swept each of the last two season series against the Bucks and have won seven straight against Milwaukee here.