Houston Rockets Team Report - November 22

(Basketball News) - Yao Ming scored 19 points and Tracy McGrady contributed 16 points and 11 assists, as the Houston Rockets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 97-93, at the Rose Garden.

Jim Jackson and Dikembe Mutombo each had 15 points for the Rockets, who have won two in a row and evened their record at 6-6. Mutombo also pulled down 11 rebounds.

Houston was clinging to a two-point lead with five minutes left in the third quarter. However, the Rockets closed the period with a 12-4 spurt, ignited by McGrady’s three-pointer, to grab a 77-67 advantage after 36 minutes.

Portland kept chipping away in the fourth quarter and cut the deficit to 93-91 on a follow-up basket by Randolph with 35.9 seconds remaining.

The Rockets then got the ball to McGrady and he drained a 22-foot jumper with 13.2 seconds left to increase the margin to four.

After Derek Anderson converted a layup for Portland, the Trail Blazers fouled Jackson with 7.3 seconds left and he proceeded to make both attempts from the stripe to seal it.

Houston, which will also visit Sacramento and Utah on its trek, is 4-3 away from home this season.

The Rockets will return to action on Tuesday when they face the Kings.