Denver, CO (My Sportsbook) - Two teams trying to avoid 0-2 starts square off tonight when the Denver Nuggets welcome the Houston Rockets to Pepsi Center.

Houston dropped a 91-82 decision to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. Steve Francis scored 10 of his career-high 39 points in the fourth quarter of the losing effort. Francis was 13-of-28 from the floor and made 12 of 14 from the foul line.

Yao Ming, who Houston selected with the top pick of the NBA Draft, failed to score, grabbed just two rebounds and was whistled for three fouls. Yao turned the ball over the first time he touched it and had little impact on the defensive end. Francis said the team needs to be patient with Yao's progress.

"It's only his first game," Francis said. "He didn't play particularly well. Sometimes that happens in your first game. It's a learning tool for him and also for us. We don't want to focus on what one guy did."

Yao was humble in defeat.

"I learned that I still have a lot to learn, and I'm just a rookie," Yao said through an interpreter. "It's a very long road and it's difficult."

Houston's coach mirrored his star player's sentiments about his rookie pivot.

"The guy's been here 10 days," coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "He's just trying to get acquainted with our offense, our defense. We're happy with him. It's going to take some time [for Yao to] get acclimated."

Houston forwards Glen Rice (knee) and Kenny Thomas (fractured thumb) are questionable for Friday's game. Forward Maurice Taylor will serve the second of a five-game suspension.

Denver dropped its season-opener, 83-77, to Minnesota. Chris Andersen led Denver with 16 points off the bench and James Posey added 15 points and 14 rebounds. Rookie forward Nene Hilario looked impressive with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Nuggets have won seven of the last 11 meetings between the teams. Houston has lost its last three games at Denver, but the Rockets hold a slim 63-61 edge in the all-time series.