San Antonio at New York (7:30 p.m. EST). Tim Duncan and the Spurs take on the Knicks and Stephon Marbury.

STARS

Sunday

_Yao Ming, Rockets, scored 21 of his career-high 37 points in the third quarter to lead Houston to a 99-89 win over Orlando.

_Jason Kidd, Nets, had 10 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds in New Jersey's 110-91 rout of Boston.

_Sam Cassell, Timberwolves, scored 14 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to lead Minnesota to a 99-95 win over Phoenix.

_Jamal Crawford, Bulls, scored 27 points, helping Chicago beat Toronto 96-89.

BIG MAN

Yao Ming scored 21 of his career-high 37 points in the third quarter and the Houston Rockets won for the sixth time in seven games, beating Orlando 99-89 on Sunday night. Yao also grabbed 10 rebounds for his 20th double-double of the season and sixth during the Rockets' recent run.

SNAPPED

Jason Kidd had 10 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds in New Jersey's 110-91 win over Boston on Sunday. The win ended the Nets' five-game losing streak, their longest since Kidd joined the team more than two years ago.

STREAKING

The Dallas Mavericks won their eighth straight game Sunday, 108-99 over Sacramento, which entered with the Western Conference's best record. The last seven wins have come since Mavericks owner Mark Cuban met with Don Nelson to clear the air about rumors concerning the coach's future.

PROTEST

About 30 people protested the proposed sale and move of the New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn, N.Y., on Sunday outside the team's home arena in East Rutherford, N.J. The protest came two days after the Nets' current owners agreed to sell the franchise to Brooklyn developer Bruce Ratner for $300 million. The Nets beat the Celtics 110-91.

SPEAKING

``I think we got the best of the trade because we got a better record. In the NBA, you're judged by the standings and right now we're ahead in the standings.'' _ Toronto's Jalen Rose, after playing against Chicago for the first time since being traded from the Bulls on Dec. 1. Rose's Raptors lost 96-89.