The Houston Rockets finally blasted their way out of the first round of the National Basketball Association playoffs, advancing for the first time in 12 years with a 92-76 victory over Portland.

Ron Artest scored 27 points and Yao Ming added 17 points with 10 rebounds as the Rockets won for the first time in thier last seven first-round series.

Houstons win gave them a four-games-to-two victory over the Trail Blazers in the best-of-seven Western Conference series, and sent them into a second-round clash with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Aaron Brooks scored 13 points and Shane Batter tied a career playoff-high with nine rebounds for the Rockets.

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