Rockets power to 13th victory without Yao
Updated: 2008-02-27 15:30
HOUSTON - The Houston Rockets overcame the loss of All-Star center Yao Ming to a season-ending foot injury on Tuesday to record their 13th straight victory with a 94-69 home rout of the Washington Wizards.
 Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (L), sidelined for the rest of the season with a foot injury, watches from the bench with teammate Gerald Green during the first half of their NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards in Houston February 26, 2008. [Agencies] |
"I had a feeling we were going to come out with a lot of effort, I just felt this team has really been building," Houston coach Rick Adelman told reporters.
"Losing Yao was a shock to them today but we've still been talking about how we can win," he said.
"We just (have) to go out and everyone has to put in the effort like we did tonight and continue to win."
Luther Head scored 18 points and the Rockets, who found out Yao was gone for the rest of the season because of a stress fracture of his left foot, cruised against the injury depleted Wizards, playing without stars Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler.
The Rockets have won all but one of their last 18 games.
Their winning streak is the longest by the Rockets since their 1993-94 championship season. It also matches the longest streak of the NBA season.
Tracy McGrady, who joined Yao as Rockets' 1-2 punch, suffered through a 2-for-11 shooting effort in the first three quarters before adding a pair of slam dunks in the fourth to finish with 11 points.
The Rockets started the 41-year-old Dikembe Mutombo in place of Yao, with Carl Landry coming off the bench with 12 points.
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