A NIGHT after Yao Ming rolled to 37 points to herald his return from a broken leg, the Suns overwhelmed him in Phoenix on Monday.

The Suns blew past the Houston Rockets 103-82, their sixth consecutive victory over the Rockets.

It’s Phoenix’s longest streak against the Rockets since 1981-83.

“We didn’t have any rhythm,” McGrady said. “I couldn’t get going. Yao couldn’t get going. Rafer (Alston) couldn’t get going. We just didn’t have it offensively.

“They take you out of your comfort zone. They force you to make plays to get somebody else to make shots. Then when it’s time for you to make a shot, you’re not in that flow. It’s tough.”

With Yao coming in on an offensive roll, the Suns used Amare Stoudemire in front and Shawn Marion, Boris Diaw or both coming in from behind, almost always before Yao even had the ball. That worked to free Chuck Hayes for a few early layups and Juwan Howard for some open jumpers.

But Yao never got going.

He made just one of nine shots. And while the Suns took him from the Rockets’ offense, McGrady took himself out by making just eight of his 28 shots as the Rockets went from three consecutive 100-point games to hitting just 39 percent (32-of-83.)

Yao had made one of his first seven shots when, with the Suns still leading by 10, he and the Rockets finally cracked.

Yao finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and five turnovers in 30 minutes.

“I was not just frustrated; I also got mad,” Yao said. “Blocked by a guy smaller is not a good feeling. It’s happened before. I believe it will happen again. But when that happens, it’s not a good feeling.”(SD-Agencies)