As a bonus, those watching also got to see plenty of Tracy McGrady, who had 21 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, and Michael Redd, who had 26 points for Milwaukee.
The Bucks have lost eight straight games in Houston and haven't won there since 1999.
But this one was more about Yao and Yi then the teams involved.
About 90 minutes before the game, Yao and Yi shook hands at midcourt and posed for about two dozen photographers, most of them Chinese. It was a staged photo opportunity, and Yao had to wait a few minutes before Yi came out of the Bucks locker room.
"You know what?" Yao said afterward, with a kidding smile. "Rookies should not do that."
The two slapped hands and smiled before the opening tip. When the ball went up, Yao inadvertently tapped it straight at Yi. Guarded by McGrady, Yi missed a shot from the wing.
Yao got the ball down low on Houston's first possession and sank two free throws after getting fouled by Andrew Bogut. Yi guarded Chuck Hayes most of the game.
Both players had impressive blocked shots early. There were a few embarrassing goofs, too. Yao missed an uncontested dunk with four minutes left in the first quarter. Yi shot an airball a minute later.
Yao banked in a shot with 21.6 seconds left in the quarter, the first field goal by either star. The Bucks led 25-24 after one.
With Yi resting on the bench, Milwaukee missed its first six shots of the second quarter during a 16-1 Rockets run. Yi returned with 8:54 left in the first half and was promptly called for goaltending when he leaped high to swat Shane Battier's shot.
Yi ended Milwaukee's drought with his first field goal, swishing a jumper from the wing with 7:52 left in the half to cut Houston's lead to 40-28.
But Yao had most of the first-half highlights, scoring 14 with six rebounds and three assists to help Houston to a 50-41 lead.
