HOUSTON, (Reuters) – Ron Artest scored a game-high 27 points as the Houston Rockets crushed the Portland Trail Blazers 92-76 on Thursday to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.
Chinese All-Star center Yao Ming chipped in with 17 points and 10 rebounds to help Houston wrap up their best-of-seven series 4-2. The Rockets face the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.
“This is a big step for me,” Yao told reporters. “It felt great when the clock was running down, I still can’t believe it. We know we have to keep moving forward.”
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points and Brandon Roy had 22 for Portland, despite carrying a knee injury sustained in the first quarter.
In the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic overcame the absence of suspended center Dwight Howard and injured guard Courtney Lee to close out their first-round series against Philadelphia 4-2 with a 114-89 victory.
Top-scorer Rashard Lewis scored 29 points among seven Orlando players to reach double figures, including Rafer Alston with 21.
Andre Miller scored a team-high 24 points and Andre Iguodala shot 20 for the 76ers, who trailed by 11 points after the first quarter and never mounted a charge.
Orlando await the winner of the first-round series between Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, the latter forcing a deciding seventh game after prevailing in a triple overtime thriller in game six on Thursday.
