Tonight, Dikembe Mutombo showed that age is nothing but a number.

Well, at least not old age.

Against one of the NBA’s youngest teams, the Golden State Warriors, the reportedly 42-year old Mutombo posted 10 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks in Houston’s 113-109 win.

Filling in for Yao Ming, who was a late scratch from the game with a sore right foot, Mutombo made his second start of the season.

The 7-2 center from the Congo got off to a fast start, tallying 5 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the first quarter along.

Mutombo would finish with 10 points and 15 rebounds his first double-double of the season.  Not only were his point and rebound totals individually season highs, but his 10 points against the Warriors is four more than his entire season combined (6 points).

His double-double was his 471st double-double of his 17-year NBA career.

What’s more is that his rebound and block totals for tonight’s game were both only three short of his season totals.  Before this game, Dikembe accumulated season totals of 18 rebounds and 7 blocks (against Golden State he notched 15 rebounds and 4 blocks).

After 19-year old rookie Anthony Randolph tried to dunk on Mutombo in the second half and was rejected, Mutombo told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle:

“Everybody is trying me. That young boy tried so hard. … He kept telling me, ‘I’m going to get you before the day’s over.’  It’s too bad. He tried, but he didn’t get a chance to dunk on Dikembe Mutombo. He’s not going to be able tell his grandkids, ‘I got Dikembe.'”

Heh.  I love that he is referring to himself in third person.   Who knew the big guy still had this much mileage and trash talk left?  Mutombo had only played in eight games previous tonight’s game.  He’s been collecting dust all season that you wonder if the Rockets were keeping him on the bench more for leadership and/or loyalty than his ability to play.

Tonight, Mutombo proved that he could still make a difference in the world’s best league, playing a season high 36 minutes.

Luis Scola of Argnetina, led Houston with a career high 28 points along with 9 rebounds.  With the win, the Rockets completed a four game series sweep of the Warriors, and maintained a half game lead over the San Antonio Sputs for the Southwest division lead.

Kelenna Azubuike (England) led the Warriors with 32 points.  In his last five games, Azubuike has averaged 24.2 points and 8.3 rebounds, and the 25-year old guard has scored 26 or more points in four of five games.

Links and Resouces: Mutombo gives Rockets boost in win over Warriors (Yahoo!),  Sore foot sidelines Yao Ming against Warriors (Houston Chronicle), Dikembe on blocking Randolph’s dunk: “That young boy tried so hard” (San Francisco Chronicle)