Yao Ming had 23 points and Jon Barry scored 15 of
his 17 in the fourth quarter, leading the Houston Rockets to a 97-94
victory over the Boston Celtics on Monday night.
Houston blew a 16-point lead but rallied behind Barry, who scored 11
points in the first 2:57 of the fourth, to snap a two-game skid and move
back to .500 on the road. The Rockets have won four straight in Boston.
With the Celtics down 93-92, Ricky Davis missed a shot for the first
time in the fourth quarter. Houston grabbed the rebound, forcing Boston to
foul Tracy McGrady, who hit both free throws to put the Rockets ahead
95-92 with 17.8 seconds left.
Paul Pierce missed a 3-pointer on Boston's ensuing possession, and Rod
Strickland ended up with the ball after a scramble. Strickland made two free throws to
put Houston up 97-92 with 7.5 seconds left, sealing the win.
Davis, who scored 17 in the final quarter, hit a jumper with 1:13
left to even the score at 90, then hit another basket with 44 seconds
remaining to tie it at 92. Davis went 7-of-8 from the field in the fourth.
Barry opened the fourth with a 20-foot jumper, then knocked down three
3-pointers in the next two minutes to put the Rockets ahead 78-68 with
9:03 left.
Boston trailed 47-31 late in the second quarter, then held Yao
scoreless during a 32-10 run to go ahead 63-57 late in the third.
Davis led Boston with 24 points, and
Pierce added 22. McGrady finished with 16.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-01 13:44
