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Rockets rout Clippers with Yao's double-double
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-15 15:03
LOS ANGELES - Tracy McGrady rebounded from one of the worst games of his
career with 28 points, Yao Ming had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the Houston
Rockets routed the Los Angeles Clippers 128-97 Tuesday night.
The Houston
Rockets' Yao Ming (2nd R) of China laughs with teammates (L-R) David
Wesley, Luther Head, and Keith Bogans during the fourth quarter of their
NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers in Los Angeles, February 14,
2006. [Reuters] |
Houston shot a season-high
58.0 percent from the field, only the third time all season that the Rockets
have shot at least 50 percent. All three games have resulted in road wins.
Rafer Alston had 17 points and 13 assists for the Rockets, who have won seven
of their last eight games following a 5-16 slide. It was their fifth straight
road victory over the Clippers and 10th in their last 11 meetings overall.
Sam Cassell scored 25 points for Los Angeles before he was ejected for
arguing a foul against him late in the third quarter, and Cuttino Mobley had 23
points. Elton Brand, who will be in Houston on Sunday for his second All-Star
game, scored 21 points before sitting out the fourth quarter.
The Clippers, who are second in the Pacific Division, have lost their last
two games to teams that are last in their respective divisions. Chicago beat
them 97-91 on Sunday.
Los Angeles played two men short, having traded backup center Chris Wilcox to
Seattle for forward Vladimir Radmanovic a few hours before gametime. Quinton
Ross, who sat out the second half of Sunday's win over Chicago, also wasn't
available after a precautionary MRI on Monday revealed inflammation around a
disc in his back.
McGrady led Houston to a 61-49 halftime lead with 19 points, after scoring
just seven in Sunday's 90-83 win over the New York Knicks and shooting 3-for-20
from the field. The only other time the Rockets and Clippers met this season, on
Dec. 17, the two-time NBA scoring champion shot 2-for-12 in the second half of
an 89-81 loss.
The Rockets scored at least 30 points in every quarter, burning the Clippers
time and time again in the third with a barrage of long-range perimeter shots.
Cassell couldn't take anymore of it and vented his frustration at referee Eli
Roe, who gave him two technical fouls after Cassell fouled Stromile Swift with
37.8 seconds left in the third and Houston ahead 91-74.
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