HOUSTON -- Yao Ming invited Shaquille O'Neal to his home, but the Lakers center said he received the message too late to take him up on the offer.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson disclosed the news of the doomed dinner date Friday night prior to the first game between the 7-foot-6 rookie from China and the 7-foot center from Los Angeles.

"I do know he was invited to his house last night,'' Jackson said. "He has family and children here, so that didn't happen.''

Yao and O'Neal first discussed the possibility of an informal get-together when they spoke privately after the Rockets played the Lakers in Los Angeles earlier this season -- a game O'Neal missed because of injury.

The Lakers arrived in Houston around noon Thursday following their game the previous night in New Orleans, and Jackson called off a practice that was originally scheduled for 2 p.m.

O'Neal declined to comment before the game but provided an explanation to Lakers spokesman Michael Uhlenkamp.

"Yao's people contacted his people, and by the time they relayed the message to him he was already doing stuff with his family,'' Uhlenkamp said.

Bill Sanders, a spokesman for Yao's marketing team, said Yao's invitation was an informal one.

"These guys have been talking about getting together for a while. It's not a big deal. Maybe next time they're both in Los Angeles they'll be able to get together,'' Sanders said.