Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian don't face each other every day.

"It is a special game for all the Chinese fans," Yi, the Nets' 7-foot forward, said.

"For me and Yao, it probably means a lot only in that all the Chinese fans will be watching. For sure, it's another game where we want to play hard and play good and try to play a good game for all the fans."

Journalists from China who cover Yi 24/7 estimated that about 200 million people will be watching the game back home.

Only the Yankee payroll is higher. Yao and Yi (with Milwaukee) played each other twice last season, Houston sweeping. Yao averaged 20 points, while Yi had 12.5.

Much of the responsibility against the 7-6 Yao (20.0 ppg, 9.5 rebs) falls to rookie Brook Lopez, who is coming off one of his strongest games, a 22-point, 13-rebound, 5-block effort in the 106-103 Saturday night defeat to Miami.

In his 19 starts, Lopez has averaged 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.31 blocks. Overall, Lopez ranks seventh in rejects with 1.96 per.

"It's my first time," Lopez said, laughing. "They're just throwing me in there [against Yao]. He is very talented. And he's tall."

You can't get that kind of insight just anywhere.

Lopez hopes he can add a few elements to his game - like maybe getting a call. Despite his impressive inside work Saturday, Lopez didn't shoot a single free throw. Welcome to the world of rookies.

"It's going to be about Oct. 29 of next year. Then I'll be a second-year player. That'll be great," said Lopez.

It won't be easier against Yao. And if he can't get calls, he'll try for something else.

"I'll get some secrets from Yi," Lopez said.

Yi, who ran into a 4:23 second-half hook Saturday - he finished with six points and five rebounds in 21 minutes after 16 and 10 in 32 minutes Friday - continues searching for consistency. He said his former national team teammate and Chinese pro-league opponent Yao told him it would be tough in the NBA.

"He told me about all the NBA players and to save something," Yi said. "He said the game is very fast, very physical, you've got to pace yourself. He told me it's very physical, very aggressive with a lot of running."

The Nets are desperate for something positive at home. They thought they turned the corner beating Dallas and Jason Kidd on Friday, but Dwyane (43 points) Wade and Miami ended that euphoria Saturday as the Nets fell to 5-9 at home.

Now come the Rockets, who have beaten them four straight and seven of eight.

Rockets at Nets Tonight - 7:30 YES; WFAN (660 AM)