Houston Rockets Update

En route to a 117-99 road victory over the Indiana Pacers, the Houston Rockets set a franchise record with their 16th straight win last night. Courtesy of a stellar first half from Tracy McGrady (23 points by intermission), the Rockets went on a 15-0 run in the second quarter and overcame a third quarter surge by the Pacers to cruise to victory.

Though so-called pundits around the nation left the Rockets for dead after All-Star center Yao Ming was lost for the season with a stress fracture in his foot, Houston has banded together and rattled off four straight wins since losing its big man. With the longest winning streak to grace the NBA this season, Houston is hitting all cylinders thanks to stellar point guard play from Rafer Alston (21 points and seven assists) and capable big men (rookies Carl Landry and Luis Scola) with the talent to hit the boards – two key ingredients that the Rockets have lacked for several years. In fact, one can argue that Houston hasn’t possessed such qualities since the team last went on a 15 game winning streak to start the 1993-1994 season in the forms of Sam Cassell/Kenny Smith and Otis Thorpe. (Steve Francis fans are likely furiously screaming at their computers right now.)

The Rockets face a tough test tonight in a divisional matchup against the Dallas Mavericks with big playoff implications. Fortunately for Houston, reigning league MVP Dirk Nowitzki will be relegated to the bench with a one game suspension for a flagrant foul committed against Utah’s Andre Kirilenko in a Monday night loss. Nevertheless, the Mavericks have had the Rockets’ number in previous meetings and with only 1.5 games separating the intrastate rivals tonight’s outcome will play a big role in determining future playoff seedings in the wild, wild West.

Photo: flickr user jeffbalke