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Rockets defeat winless Grizzlies 90-87
Juwan Howard scored 20 points, Yao Ming added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets kept Memphis winless this season, beating the Grizzlies 90-87 on Tuesday night despite losing Tracy McGrady to a hip injury.
Playing only his second home game in Houston, McGrady left midway through the third quarter with a right hip strain and didn't return. He finished with 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
The star guard limped out of the arena after the game and said he wasn't sure if he would be able to play Thursday against Minnesota.
The Rockets have won three straight since losing their first two games of the season in Detroit and Toronto. They've beaten the Grizzlies twice during that streak, sandwiching those wins around a victory over Sacramento on Saturday.
Howard, one of the forgotten players in the summer trade with Orlando that fetched McGrady, picked up the scoring slack in his teammate's absence.
The Rockets' newest sixth man shot 7-of-12 from the field and made all six free throws, providing a timely boost on a night when Houston's preferred 1-2 scoring punch of Yao and McGrady was nowhere near peak efficiency.
Houston also managed to overcome some extremely sloppy ballhandling, committing 24 turnovers that led to 26 points for Memphis.
The Grizzlies were hurt by the absence of forward James Posey, a former Rocket, who missed the game with a sprained left foot. Shane Battier took his spot in the lineup, going 2-of-4 for six points.
Stromile Swift led the Grizzlies with 18 points, Pau Gasol added 15 and Bonzi Wells had 13.
Memphis continued its struggles on offense, making only 41 percent of its shots — just slightly better than its average of 38.4 coming into the game.
Swift broke the Grizzlies' five-minute shooting slump in the fourth, converting a three-point play with 2:08 left to draw Memphis to 87-83.
But with the Rockets leading 89-86 with 3.9 seconds left, Gasol actually hurt the Grizzlies' chances by unintentionally banking in the second of two free throws.
Memphis coach Hubie Brown cursed, and Gasol shrugged his shoulders.
Notes:@ None of Houston's opponents this season have come into a game with a win. ... The Rockets have won 16 of 19 at home against Memphis. ... A portly male fan who began removing his clothes while on camera was escorted out of the arena during a timeout in the third quarter. Ushers arrived just as the man began taking off his pants. |
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