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Houston Rockets beat Phoenix Suns 127-107
Tracy McGrady scored 38 points and Yao Ming had 27 points and a career-high 22 rebounds, helping the Houston Rockets rally from a 14-point third-quarter deficit to defeat the Phoenix Suns 127-107 Friday night.
Houston began the fourth quarter trailing by four points, but with McGrady pumping in jumpers and the 7-foot-6 Yao taking command inside, the Rockets outscored Phoenix 41-17 and finished with their highest point total of the season.
David Wesley contributed 20 points for Houston and Mike James had 14, all in the second half.
Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 31 points and 10 rebounds, but shot only 2-for-10 in the second half as he was continually frustrated by Yao underneath. Walter McCarty added a season-high 20 points, including six 3-pointers, before fouling out with 3:23 left, and Jim Jackson and Jim Johnson each had 15 points for Phoenix. Steve Nash finished with 10 points and 10 assists.
The first half, which ended 60-60, was very fast-paced — typical for the Suns, but not so typical for the defense-oriented Rockets. It also was a series of spurts and a furious dual between Stoudemire and McGrady. By halftime, Stoudemire, the league's fourth-leading scorer, had 24 points and McGrady, the No. 5 scorer, had 17.
Houston opened the game quickly, surprising the Suns with a rarely-seen running game, and built a 27-14 lead after 8:15. The Rockets used a 9-0 run, seven Phoenix turnovers and 13 points by Wesley to fashion that margin.
Then, over the next five minutes spanning the first and second quarters, the Suns outscored Houston 22-2, with Stoudemire collecting eight points and Jim Jackson and Leandro Barbosa hitting consecutive 3-pointers, and assumed a 36-29 lead. The Rockets answered right back, scoring the next nine points and led 38-36.
Houston's two big men — Yao and Dikembe Mutombo, both of whom had dominated the boards with six rebounds apiece — each picked up three personal fouls and went to the bench. That's when McGrady went to work, scoring eight straight Houston points.
Even without their second-leading scorer and No. 1 rebounder, Shawn Marion, the Suns were able to stay with the Rockets. Marion was sidelined with a contusion of the left knee.
The Suns made another run, 21-7, in the first 5:53 of the third quarter. The burst was highlighted by five 3s, three by McCarty. Again, McGrady led Houston back. Connecting on four jumpers and a turnaround, and finishing the period with 13 points, he brought Houston back to 90-86 by the end of the quarter. In their next home game, April 18 against Golden State, the Suns will place their former coach, the late Cotton Fitzsimmons, into their Ring of Honor during halftime ceremonies. ... Houston leads the NBA with seven players with at least 10 years of experience in the NBA — Vin Baker, Jon Barry, Juwan Howard, Mutombo, Charlie Ward, Clarence Weatherspoon and Wesley. ... The Suns are on target to become the first team since the 1998-99 Sacramento Kings to finish the season with the league's best offense and worst defense. ... Houston has suited up a franchise record 22 players this season. ... This was the Suns' fifth straight sellout and 17th of the season; they had only six sellouts last season. ... Suns swingman Jim Jackson was facing the Rockets for the first time since Houston traded him to New Orleans Dec. 27.
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