Rockets top Suns 120 to 117
The Houston Rockets accomplished two things tonight at Toyota Center: first, the Rockets defeated the Phoenix Suns 120 to 117 for Houston's first win over Phoenix this season; and, second, the victory clinched the 4th seed and home court advantage in the first round versus the Utah Jazz.
The Rockets (52 - 29) were led by The Big Two -- Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. McGrady scored a game-high 39 points while Yao added 34 points marking the second time this season Yao and Tracy McGrady have reached 30 points in the same game. They combined to shoot 28 for 51 from the field. McGrady added 11 rebounds and nine assists. Yao Ming pulled down nine boards.
Phoenix led the Rockets 25 to 24 at the end of the first quarter. McGrady played all 12 minutes of the quarter and scored 12 points on 5 for 8 shooting from the field. Though he turned the ball over four times, he was definitely in attack mode from the opening tip.
"I know how important it is for a team to be playing extremely well going into the playoffs," said T-Mac. "That's why I wanted to take my game to another level."
Suns' center Amare Stoudemire scored 10 points (4 for 5) in the first period.
McGrady scored 13 more points in the second quarter and Stoudemire added 10 points for the Suns -- including a jump shot as the half time buzzer sounded to pull Phoenix within two points (56 to 54) at halftime.
The Rockets blitzed Phoenix in the third quarter with a 29 to 16 run to lead 85 to 70 with 2:52 left in the third quarter. McGrady and Ming combined for 20 of Houston's 35-third quarter points. The Rockets outscored Phoenix 35 to 25 to take a 91 to 79 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Rockets kept the Suns at arms' length for much of the fourth quarter. Phoenix used a 11 to 4 scoring run to pull within five points, 97 to 92, with 8:12 left in the game; however, one three point basket each from Shane Battier and Luther Head helped the Rockets lead 105 to 94 with 6:27 remaining in the quarter.
McGrady banged in a 26-foot three-point jumper to give the Rockets a 113 to 103 lead with 3:53 remaining; however, Steve Nash hit a three 18 seconds later and the Suns began making one final push. After a three-second call on Yao Ming, Nash hit a 13-foot jumper, to trim the Rockets lead to 113 to 108. Yao tipped in a miss by Battier; then, Battier swished a three-point shot to give the Rockets 118 to 108 with 2:13 remaining.
The Suns refused to quit; and, scored seven straight points to trail just 118 to 115 with 48.5 seconds on the game clock. McGrady missed a long jump shot with 28.9 seconds remaining; but, Stoudemire missed a 10-foot bank shot.
Yao Ming and Suns' forward Shawn Marion were tied up for a jump ball. Phoenix gained possession and called two twenty-second times-out. Nash missed a three point shot; but, Phoenix kept possession of the ball as it bounced out of bounds. After a twenty-second Rockets' time-out, Houston's defense (or indecisive Suns' offense) forced Stoudemire to shoot a three-point shot -- which is well outside of his range. The shot was short; but, Marion rebounded the miss with 1.7 seconds remaining. However, instead of passing the rebound back to a teammate for a three-point shot attempt, Marion scored a lay-up with just one second left in the game. Without any times-out left, Phoenix was forced to foul Rafer Alston with just 0.3 seconds remaining. Alston made both free throws for the final score of 120 to 117.
On "Fan Appreciation Night" the Rockets sent the raucous sell-out Toyota Center crowd home with a much needed win.
"The fans were great tonight," said Rockets forward Shane Battier. "It was fitting that it was Fan Appreciation Night; they were awesome and we appreciated it. They know that we need them at their best."
Battier scored 17 points (5 for 6 from three point range).
Rafer Alston scored 11 points and added nine assists.
"There was a lot of energy in the building," said Alston. "It was electrifying out there. You have 2 All-Stars who were just outstanding tonight. On the flip side, Phoenix practically made every shot that they shot. They shot a high field goal percentage and yet we came away with the victory."
Steve Nash finished the game with 15 points and 15 assists -- in just under 34 minutes.
"We played hard but not great," Nash said after the game. "It was a big game for them but not for us. Our guys just wanted to win the game. We didn't dictate the pace as well as we did in other games. We match up well with them. We seem to have the answers against this team."
The Suns shot 57.3% (47 for 82) from the field for the game; however, the Rockets out rebounded Phoenix 46 to 31.
Battier added, "We really played poorly against Phoenix the last 3 times on the boards and so we really wanted to come out tonight and establish ourselves. That's their biggest weakness and we wanted to exploit that. We did an awful job of that the last 3 games (against Phoenix) and it made a big difference for us."
The Rockets (52 - 29) were led by The Big Two -- Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. McGrady scored a game-high 39 points while Yao added 34 points marking the second time this season Yao and Tracy McGrady have reached 30 points in the same game. They combined to shoot 28 for 51 from the field. McGrady added 11 rebounds and nine assists. Yao Ming pulled down nine boards.
Phoenix led the Rockets 25 to 24 at the end of the first quarter. McGrady played all 12 minutes of the quarter and scored 12 points on 5 for 8 shooting from the field. Though he turned the ball over four times, he was definitely in attack mode from the opening tip.
"I know how important it is for a team to be playing extremely well going into the playoffs," said T-Mac. "That's why I wanted to take my game to another level."
Suns' center Amare Stoudemire scored 10 points (4 for 5) in the first period.
McGrady scored 13 more points in the second quarter and Stoudemire added 10 points for the Suns -- including a jump shot as the half time buzzer sounded to pull Phoenix within two points (56 to 54) at halftime.
The Rockets blitzed Phoenix in the third quarter with a 29 to 16 run to lead 85 to 70 with 2:52 left in the third quarter. McGrady and Ming combined for 20 of Houston's 35-third quarter points. The Rockets outscored Phoenix 35 to 25 to take a 91 to 79 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Rockets kept the Suns at arms' length for much of the fourth quarter. Phoenix used a 11 to 4 scoring run to pull within five points, 97 to 92, with 8:12 left in the game; however, one three point basket each from Shane Battier and Luther Head helped the Rockets lead 105 to 94 with 6:27 remaining in the quarter.
McGrady banged in a 26-foot three-point jumper to give the Rockets a 113 to 103 lead with 3:53 remaining; however, Steve Nash hit a three 18 seconds later and the Suns began making one final push. After a three-second call on Yao Ming, Nash hit a 13-foot jumper, to trim the Rockets lead to 113 to 108. Yao tipped in a miss by Battier; then, Battier swished a three-point shot to give the Rockets 118 to 108 with 2:13 remaining.
The Suns refused to quit; and, scored seven straight points to trail just 118 to 115 with 48.5 seconds on the game clock. McGrady missed a long jump shot with 28.9 seconds remaining; but, Stoudemire missed a 10-foot bank shot.
Yao Ming and Suns' forward Shawn Marion were tied up for a jump ball. Phoenix gained possession and called two twenty-second times-out. Nash missed a three point shot; but, Phoenix kept possession of the ball as it bounced out of bounds. After a twenty-second Rockets' time-out, Houston's defense (or indecisive Suns' offense) forced Stoudemire to shoot a three-point shot -- which is well outside of his range. The shot was short; but, Marion rebounded the miss with 1.7 seconds remaining. However, instead of passing the rebound back to a teammate for a three-point shot attempt, Marion scored a lay-up with just one second left in the game. Without any times-out left, Phoenix was forced to foul Rafer Alston with just 0.3 seconds remaining. Alston made both free throws for the final score of 120 to 117.
On "Fan Appreciation Night" the Rockets sent the raucous sell-out Toyota Center crowd home with a much needed win.
"The fans were great tonight," said Rockets forward Shane Battier. "It was fitting that it was Fan Appreciation Night; they were awesome and we appreciated it. They know that we need them at their best."
Battier scored 17 points (5 for 6 from three point range).
Rafer Alston scored 11 points and added nine assists.
"There was a lot of energy in the building," said Alston. "It was electrifying out there. You have 2 All-Stars who were just outstanding tonight. On the flip side, Phoenix practically made every shot that they shot. They shot a high field goal percentage and yet we came away with the victory."
Steve Nash finished the game with 15 points and 15 assists -- in just under 34 minutes.
"We played hard but not great," Nash said after the game. "It was a big game for them but not for us. Our guys just wanted to win the game. We didn't dictate the pace as well as we did in other games. We match up well with them. We seem to have the answers against this team."
The Suns shot 57.3% (47 for 82) from the field for the game; however, the Rockets out rebounded Phoenix 46 to 31.
Battier added, "We really played poorly against Phoenix the last 3 times on the boards and so we really wanted to come out tonight and establish ourselves. That's their biggest weakness and we wanted to exploit that. We did an awful job of that the last 3 games (against Phoenix) and it made a big difference for us."
posted by Kris Gardner @ 10:48 PM
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