ORLANDO - DWIGHT Howard might be regarded as the best centre in the NBA by the end of this season, but Yao Ming let him know that debate still has a way to go before it's settled.

Yao, Houston's All-Star, outplayed Howard in nearly every phase in scoring 22 points and taking down 13 rebounds while carrying a tired Rockets team to a 100-95 victory over Howard and the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

'We did what we wanted to do offensively,' Houston coach Rick Adelman said.

'If we get the ball into Yao, it opens up a lot of things. He has such an impact on the game.'

Yao, who missed a game this week with a sore foot, said he was trying to take up the slack for Tracy McGrady, who still doesn't appear to be moving well after offseason knee surgery.

'Tracy did so much for our team last year when I was out so I'm trying to pay him back,' Yao said.

Yao hit nine of 15 shots from the field and made all four free throws while working almost exclusively in the lane and putting Howard in serious foul trouble.

The Magic center played only seven minutes in the first half when he had three fouls. He picked up his fourth foul a minute into the second half and was tentative the rest of the way in defending the interior of the Orlando defence.

'He's a tough guy to guard,' Howard said.

'He's very gifted, he shoots the ball extremely well and that sets up everything else in his game. I learn a lot every time I play him.' -- AP