Rockets hold off Suns rally 98-97
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-10 13:55

Phoenix Suns Steve Nash (13) of Canada, drives between Houston Rockets David Wesley (7) and Yao Ming, right, of China, during the third quarter, Saturday, April 9, 2005, in Phoenix. Nash was fouled on the play by Ming. [AP]

Tracy McGrady scored 34 points and the Houston Rockets held off a fierce late Phoenix rally to beat the Suns 98-97 on Saturday night and secure a playoff berth.

The Suns, down by 16 with 10:41 to go, had a chance to win it at the finish but Steve Nash missed an 18-footer, and Steven Hunter's attempt to slam home the rebound bounced out.

Houston committed two 24-second shot-clock violations in the final 58 seconds, and Bob Sura missed two free throws with 7.8 seconds to go to give Phoenix a chance for a victory. Instead, the Suns were beaten for the second straight night, only the third time they have had a losing streak beyond one game all season.

Amare Stoudemire had 32 points and 12 rebounds for the Suns but fouled out with 2:01 to play.

Dikembe Mutombo, playing 23 minutes with Yao Ming in foul trouble, had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who stayed a half-game ahead of Denver for the No. 6 spot in the West. Houston is a game behind Sacramento for the No. 5 spot with five to play.

Sura scored 13 and Yao 10.

Nash had 19 points but just five assists. Shawn Marion scored 20 and Joe Johnson 16 for the Suns.

Quentin Richardson was 0-for-7 shooting and didn't score. He was 0-for-5 on 3-pointers. Overall, Phoenix made just 8 of 31 3-pointers.

Trailing 83-67 with 10:41 left, the Suns went on a 12-1 run to cut it to 84-79 when Stoudemire sank two free throws, after drawing Yao's fifth foul, with 7:21 to go. During the surge, Stoudemire blocked Mutombo's rebound try from behind and Yao's inside shot.

Houston stretched the lead back to 93-83 on two free throws apiece by McGrady and Mike James with 4:55 to play, then Phoenix made it 95-91 on Stoudemire's rebound of his own miss with 2:12 remaining. Stoudemire fouled out with 2:01 left, but McGrady missed one of two free throws, and Marion's 15-footer from the baseline cut the lead to 98-95 1:22 from the end.

After Houston's second shot-clock violation, Hunter's dunk cut the lead to 98-97 with 14 seconds remaining. Nash had to chase Sura down the court to foul him with 7.8 seconds to play. Marion rebounded Sura's second missed free throw and called a 20-second time out to set up the last play.

Nash's shot was short. Hunter was wide open for the rebound but his slam bounced out.

The Suns led by as many as 14 in the first quarter and 12 in the second, but were up just 47-45 at the half. McGrady scored 11 in a 19-4 outburst that put Houston ahead 70-59 with 2:40 to play in the third quarter. Sura's wide-open 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer gave Houston a 78-64 lead entering the fourth.

McGrady scored 13 on 6-for-8 shooting in the third, while the Suns shot 24 percent (6-for-25).

David Wesley's 3-pointer gave the Rockets their biggest lead, 83-67, 10:41 from the finish.

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