NBA Wire Notes | "Chinese Super Bowl" a dud for key players

MILWAUKEE — China's biggest basketball star scored 12 points and struggled on defense. The country's fresh new face shot 1 for 10 from the field.

Not exactly what the 200 million people tuning in hoped to see.

The second edition of Yao vs. Yi didn't quite live up to its billing as the "Chinese Super Bowl" as Yao Ming's Houston Rockets beat Yi Jianlian and the Milwaukee Bucks 91-83 on Saturday despite relatively quiet nights by both of China's biggest basketball exports.

"Both of us struggled a little bit, but we got the win," Yao said.

Yao did manage a team-high 12 rebounds for Houston after getting into early foul trouble and tweaking his ankle just before halftime.

Yi was banged up as well, scoring six points after hurting his shoulder early in the game. But the Bucks rookie didn't blame his poor shooting on his injury and tried to keep the significance of Saturday's game in perspective.

"As far as we're concerned, in the grand scope of things, it's another regular-season game," said Yi, speaking through a translator.

But even Yao, the far more experienced player of the two, knew the game was a big deal.

"It is big," Yao said. "To be honest, I was a little bit nervous last night. ... It's like a playoff game or something."

Yao and Yi's first meeting on an NBA court, Nov. 9 in Houston, was watched by an audience estimated between 100 and 200 million people in China.

A similar audience was expected for Saturday's game, which was being broadcast live by three stations in greater China and on tape delay by a fourth. Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak dubbed it the "Chinese Super Bowl."

The game's high profile wasn't lost on the pair's American teammates.

"Two hundred million people watching — that's when you've got to bring your A-game," said Tracy McGrady, who led the Rockets with 33 points. "That's amazing that there's double the people watching a regular-season NBA game as the Super Bowl."

McGrady provided all the offense the Rockets needed, hitting several jumpers to hold off a late Bucks rally.

Notes

• With a trade to Memphis possibly near completion, center Jason Collins started what could be his final game with the New Jersey Nets. Collins, who has spent all of his six-year NBA career with New Jersey, reportedly will be dealt to the Grizzlies by Monday for forward Stromile Swift.

• Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace missed the game against the Denver Nuggets because of a sprained right ankle.