|
McGrady leads Rockets past Cavaliers with 34 points
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-06 14:19
Tracy McGrady scored 34 points, Juwan Howard made two
late jumpers and the getting-healthier-by-the day Houston Rockets got their
second straight quality road win, 90-81 over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday
night.
Tracy McGrady (1)
of the Houston Rockets scores two points over Drew Gooden (90) of the
Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter of their NBA game at The Q in
Cleveland, Ohio January 5, 2006.
[Reuters] | McGrady surpassed 30 points for the
fourth straight game as the Rockets, who have been decimated by injuries all
season, followed up a win at Washington by handing the Cavaliers just their
fourth loss in 17 home games.
LeBron James had 32 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Cleveland, but
the Cavs fell to 1-1 since learning that guard Larry Hughes, the club's
second-leading scorer, could miss two months with a broken finger.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 17 points for the Cavs, who didn't help themselves by
going just 8-of-18 on free throws and 7-of-29 on 3-pointers.
Still, Cleveland, which trailed by 17 in the third quarter, was within 84-78
when Howard dropped two straight jumpers to put the Rockets back in charge.
Howard finished with 16 points and Rafer Alston 18 for Houston, whose list of
injured players includes Yao Ming, Derek Anderson and Bob Sura.
McGrady, who had a season-high tying 38 against the Wizards, had 23 in the
first half and looked like he could score at will before the Cavaliers finally
slowed him down in the second half.
But he hit several big shots, including a swooping layup with 2:19 left to
put the Rockets ahead 84-78. It's the first time McGrady has scored at least 30
in four straight games for Houston.
The Cavaliers were just 2-of-19 on 3-pointers before James buried two in a
span of 26 seconds late in the third quarter to pull Cleveland, which trailed by
17, within 71-60 after three.
James went 7-of-8 from the field and scored 16 of Cleveland's 25 points in
the period.
|
