HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets finally advanced in the NBA playoffs.

Ron Artest scored 27 points, Yao Ming had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Houston reached the second round for the first time since 1997, beating the Portland Trail Blazers, 92-76, in Game 6 last night.

The Rockets drafted Yao with the top overall pick in 2002, and he's played on three of the teams that lost in the opening round. He broke his foot late last season and watched from the bench as the Rockets lost again.

He embraced teammates with a wide grin moments after this one ended, savoring every moment after his seven-year wait.

"It's a big step for me," he said. "Even when the clock was running down, I'm still not believing that it's coming true. Obviously now that we know that feeling, we've got to keep moving forward."

Aaron Brooks scored 13 points as the Rockets won for the first time in their last seven first-round series.

PORTLAND 19 18 19 20—76

HOUSTON 21 31 22 18—92

PORTLAND-Fernandez 1-7 0-0 2, Aldridge 12-21 2-2 26, Przybilla 1-3 1-2 3, Blake 1-4 0-0 2, Roy 8-17 4-6 22, Outlaw 2-9 4-4 9, Oden 1-3 1-2 3, Rodriguez 0-0 0-0 0, Frye 1-2 0-0 2, Batum 2-3 0-0 5, Bayless 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 30-71 12-16 76.

HOUSTON-Battier 3-6 0-0 7, Scola 3-7 3-4 9, Yao 8-16 1-2 17, Brooks 5-11 1-2 13, Artest 11-21 2-2 27, Wafer 2-5 0-0 5, Lowry 1-6 2-2 5, Landry 2-5 2-2 6, Hayes 0-0 0-0 0, White 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 36-78 11-14 92.

3-Point Goals—Portland 4-11 (Roy 2-3, Batum 1-1, Outlaw 1-2, Blake 0-2, Fernandez 0-3), Houston 9-24 (Artest 3-11, Brooks 2-4, White 1-1, Wafer 1-2, Battier 1-3, Lowry 1-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Portland 43 (Przybilla, Fernandez 8), Houston 47 (Yao 10). Assists—Portland 14 (Blake 5), Houston 14 (Lowry 3). Total Fouls—Portland 17, Houston 13. A—18,376 (18,043).