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McGrady helps Rockets shoot past Bucks
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-02 13:53
HOUSTON - Tracy McGrady scored 22 points, Yao Ming added 21 and the Houston
Rockets overcame an early 13-point deficit to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 86-84 on
Wednesday night.
Houston Rockets'
Tracy McGrady, left, drives past Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Simmons (21)
during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 1,
2006, in Houston. The Rockets won 86-84. [AP] |
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Milwaukee went on a late 11-2 run to pull to 86-84 when T.J Ford hit one of
two free throws with 37 seconds to play. But Bobby Simmons missed a 25-footer
with 3 seconds left and Houston got the rebound.
Yao, in his second game back after missing 21 games due to surgery on his
left big toe, also had 13 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season.
Simmons hit a career-high five 3-pointers and led the Bucks with 26 points,
matching his season high.
The Bucks were playing without leading scorer Michael Redd, who missed the
game with back spasms. Redd, averaging 25.3 points per game, is day to day.
Houston opened the game by scoring the first six points, but Milwaukee then
went on a 19-2 run. The Bucks finished the first quarter leading 27-15 as Jiri
Welsch, who replaced Redd in the starting lineup, and Simmons each had seven
points.
Led by rookie Chuck Hayes' eight points and seven from Yao, the Rockets went
on an 18-2 run to start the second quarter for a 33-29 lead with 6:42 to play in
the half.
After scoring only two points in the first quarter, Yao finished the half
with 13, including an improbable no-look layup he flipped up under the basket as
he fell backward to the floor.
McGrady, the NBA's fifth-leading scorer at 26.9 points per game, was 1-for-6
from the field and had only six points in the first half as Houston took a 49-41
lead.
McGrady warmed up in the third quarter, shooting 4-of-7 and scoring 13 points
as Houston led by as many as 13. The Rockets settled for a 77-66 lead after
three.
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