Rockets need McGrady on the court

12.14.2006

(Basketball News) - Houston All-Star Tracy McGrady is sidelined with back spasms. McGrady, who missed 35 games last season, is averaging 19.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and a team-best 6.3 assists this season.

The Rockets begin a five-game road trip when they visit the Golden State Warriors on Thursday at ORACLE Arena. Houston has won two straight and three of its last four at Golden State. The Rockets have won three in a row in the series.

Houston will try and get back on the winning track against the Warriors. Superstar Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as Los Angeles squandered a 27-point fourth quarter lead but held on and escaped with a 102-94 victory over the Rockets on Tuesday at the Toyota Center.

All-Star center Yao Ming poured in 26 points on 9-of-19 from the field for the Rockets in the loss to the Lakers, while Luther Head scored 21 points for Houston, which had a two-game winning streak halted. John Lucas netted 13 and Juwan Howard posted 10 points in defeat.

The Rockets are 6-5 on the road this season. They will also visit the Lakers, Clippers, Portland and San Antonio on the current road trip.

Yao leads the Rockets in scoring (25.5 ppg) and rebounding (9.2 rpg). He has scored 20 or more points in three straight and 18 of Houston’s 21 contests this season. The Houston center has collected eight double-doubles and scored in double-digits in all of the Rockets’ games.

Houston is 2-3 when it allows 100 or more points this season. The Rockets are 5-0 when they reach the century mark.

HOU

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