Rockets continue to disappoint

Houston is 17 games out of first place in the Southwest and looks like they are headed towards the lottery.

The Rockets will try and rebound from a tough loss on Monday when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center. It is the first of two contests between the clubs this season. The Rockets will host Milwaukee on February 1st at the Bradley Center.

Houston has won three of four and four of the its six meetings against the Bucks. These two teams have split the last 10 meetings at Milwaukee.

On Sunday, Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton scored 24 points apiece as Detroit edged the Rockets, 99-97, at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Tracy McGrady poured in a game-high 43 points along with nine rebounds and five assists in the loss to the Bucks for Houston, which has lost seven of its last eight games overall. Juwan Howard posted 16 points and 12 rebounds in defeat, while Rafer Alston posted 13 points and David Wesley added 10.

The Rockets, who play the finale of a three-game road trip, are 10-13 on the road this season. They defeated the Chicago Bulls, 109-108, in double-overtime on Friday at the United Center.

McGrady, who leads the team in scoring (26.3 ppg) and has missed 13 contests because of injuries this season, is averaging 39 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in his last two contests. The Rockets are 0-13 when McGrady is not in the lineup in the campaign.

Forward Stromile Swift (eye) and guards Jon Barry (calf) and Moochie Norris (foot) are doubtful for Monday’s game against Milwaukee. Center Yao Ming (toe) and guards Bob Sura (knee) and Derek Anderson (calf) are sidelined indefinitely.

Yao last played on December 17th against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The All-Star center was averaging 19.9 points and a team- best9.0 rebounds before he was sidelined with his injury. The Rockets are 4-13 since Yao’s injury.

Houston is 7-1 when it scores 100 or more points this season.