18th straight win for the Rockets

Led by Tracy McGrady’s 41 point scoring barrage, the Houston Rockets won their 18th consecutive game with a 106-96 victory over the New Orleans Hornets. McGrady converted 17 of 27 field goal attempts and reached the 40-point plateau for just the fourth time this season. The Herculean effort was needed by the Houston swingman thanks to front court deficiencies. In addition to the loss of Yao Ming for the season’s entirety, the Rockets were playing without rookie Carl Landry, who was relegated to the pine with a bruised left knee.

The Hornets, too, were lacking in big men as David West missed his third straight game with a sprained left ankle. Thus New Orleans was also forced to rely more heavily on its own superstar, point guard Chris Paul, who delivered in kind with a 37 point and 11 assist outing.

The Rockets continually tried to put distance between themselves and the Hornets with surges throughout the game, however New Orleans always maintained close distance thanks to key three-pointers by Peja Stojakovic and Paul. Nevertheless, the Rockets were able to walk away victorious courtesy of McGrady and the play of guard Rafer Alston, who chipped in 20 points to help the Rockets achieve the NBA’s seventh longest winning streak in league history.

By winning their 12th straight game at the Toyota Center, tying a franchise home winning streak first set in the 1993-94 championship season, the Rockets put themselves in a tie for third place in the Western Conference standings. With only the Lakers and Spurs above them, the Rockets are looking to make a run to the top of the division as they not only beat, but decimate opponents. Last night marked Houston’s ninth straight win by double digits.

Photo: flickr user jeffbalke