Yao, McGrady lead Rockets past Pacers
(AP)Updated: 2007-03-21 13:40 Yao Ming had 32 points and 14 rebounds and Tracy McGrady added 20 points and 10 assists to lead the Houston Rockets to an 86-76 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night.
The Rockets outrebounded Indiana 53-41 to make up for 39 percent shooting and kept pace with Utah in the race for the fourth-best record in the Western Conference. The Jazz beat Golden State 104-100 and lead Houston by 1 1/2 games.
 Tracy McGrady #1 of the Houston Rockets shoots the ball over Mike Dunleavy #17 of the Indiana Pacers on March 20, 2007 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. [Sina]  |
Jermaine O'Neal scored 25 and grabbed nine rebounds for the Pacers, who have dropped eight straight road games and 12 of 13 overall.
O'Neal started 4-of-11, but kept the Pacers close early, scoring eight of their 16 first-quarter points. Ike Diogu hit three short jumpers in a row to give Indiana its first lead, at 20-18, early in the second quarter.
Kirk Snyder drove for a dunk to end Houston's 6-minute field-goal drought and Luther Head followed with a 3-pointer to put the Rockets back in front.
Yao carried Houston the rest of the half, scoring 10 of their final 16 points. Yao hit 6 of 8 shots in the first half, but the rest of the Rockets made only 8-of-29 and Houston led only 39-37 at the break.
The Rockets coughed up three turnovers early in the third quarter and the Pacers took a 49-47 lead. Neither team led by more than three the rest of the quarter as both struggled to find an offensive rhythm.
Yao hit four free throws early in the final quarter, but Houston missed 12 straight shots. Shawne Williams scored inside and Mike Dunleavy swished a jumper from the wing to put Indiana up 67-65.
Yao then started a 19-7 Houston run with two more free throws and McGrady ended Houston's field-goal drought with a 3-pointer from the wing. The Rockets, fifth in the league in 3-point accuracy, were 3-for-18 from behind the arc before McGrady's shot.
Yao added two baseline jumpers over the next minute to give Houston a 74-67 lead.
O'Neal dunked with 6:06 left to cut Houston's lead to five. He tried for another dunk with 4:43 to go, but hit the floor hard after he was fouled by Shane Battier. O'Neal limped around for a few seconds before splitting the free throws.
McGrady and Juwan Howard hit long jumpers to stretch Houston's lead to 79-70. Tinsley scored, but Howard answered with another baseline jumper.
After Tinsley hit a floater, McGrady drew Indiana's defense on a drive and found Battier open in the corner for a 3-pointer that gave Houston its first double-digit lead, 84-74 with 2:20 left.
Tinsley banked in a runner with 1:13 left, but the Pacers couldn't get closer, committing three turnovers in the last 90 seconds.
The Rockets have won seven of nine games since Yao returned from a broken leg.
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