Rockets need T-Mac to step it up

The Rockets are 17-12 and are in third place in the Southwest Division. They trail the division-leading Dallas Mavericks by five games.

Yao, who leads the Rockets in scoring (25.9 ppg) and rebounding (9.4 rpg), suffered a non displaced fracture in a bone under his right knee during a 98-93 loss on December 23rd to the Los Angeles Clippers. He is not expected to have surgery, but will most likely miss at least six weeks of action.

Houston is 1-1 without Yao. McGrady, who had been sidelined with back spasms and returned to the lineup the game after Yao’s injury, has averaged 18 points, three rebounds and 5.5 assists in the two contests without the talented big man.

On Friday, the struggling Atlanta Hawks play the first of a three-game road trip as they visit the Rockets at the Toyota Center. It is the first of two contests between the clubs this season. The Hawks are scheduled to host Houston on February 23, 2007 at Philips Arena. Atlanta has lost seven straight and 13 of its last 14 at Houston. The teams have split the last four meetings in the series.

Houston begins a four-game homestand against the Hawks. On Wednesday, Shane Battier had 23 points, including a career-best seven three-pointers, and also pulled down nine rebounds as the Rockets crushed the New Jersey Nets, 96-71, at Continental Airlines Arena.

McGrady added 17 points and dished out six assists, while Rafer Alston poured in 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the win over New Jersey for the Rockets, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

The Rockets are 8-3 at home this season. They are also scheduled to host Memphis, Seattle and Utah on the current homestand.

McGrady is averaging 19.1 points 5.3 rebounds and a team-best 6.2 assists in 22 games this season. He has registered double-digits in scoring 19 times and has collected four double-doubles.