Tracy McGrady had 25 points and Yao Ming scored 23 to lead the Houston
Rockets past the Atlanta Hawks 92-69 on Wednesday night.
It was the biggest blowout of the season for Houston, which won for the
fourth time in five games. The Hawks have lost three straight games, and
nine of their last 11.
Al Harrington and Josh Smith were the lone bright spots for Atlanta,
which shot 34.2 percent. Harrington had 21 points and eight rebounds,
while Smith added 14 points and 10 boards.
With Houston leading 41-36 at the half, Yao sparked a 12-2 run at the
beginning of the third quarter. He scored seven during the spurt to help
the Rockets open up a 13-point lead, 53-40. Jim Jackson added 13 points
for Houston.
Yao's 11 third-quarter points equaled the Hawks' total, the best
defensive period by the Rockets this season. Houston scored 16 straight in
the first quarter to take a 18-6 lead, with Jackson scoring seven during
the run.
The Hawks chipped away at
the Houston lead, cutting the deficit to 39-36 late in the second period
before things got out of hand.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-16 14:29
