Sports / Basketball |
McGrady's 37 helps Rockets past Spurs(Associated Press )Updated: 2007-01-25 14:23 SAN ANTONIO - Tracy McGrady scored 37 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 90-85 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. Rafer Alston had 19 points and Juwan Howard added 11 as the Rockets snapped a three-game losing streak. Tim Duncan had a season-high 37 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who had their three-game winning streak end. Manu Ginobili added 15 points and Tony Parker scored 10. Houston built a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter and led by double digits with about 3 1/2 minutes left, but San Antonio _ with Duncan leading the way _ pulled to within two. McGrady then made a 3-point play with under a minute left. Ginobili answered with a basket and then fouled Alston, who sank both his shots to give Houston a five-point cushion with less than 10 seconds left. Houston's 8-0 run toward the end of the first quarter kept them within five of the Spurs, who took a 21-16 lead into the second. The Spurs had a 37-36 lead at halftime. They were led by Duncan, who had 12 points including a last-second basket in the second quarter to give San Antonio the lead. McGrady led the Rockets with 13 at the half. The teams largely traded baskets in the thrid and were tied six times. Duncan had 12 points in the quarter. McGrady also had 12, including three made free throws when he was fouled attempting a 3-pointer, in the third as the Rockets took a 61-58 lead. Houston pushed its lead to 10 with 9:08 to go in the fourth on Shane Battier's four-point play. He made a 3 from the corner as he was fouled, then hit his shot from the line. The Spurs pulled within eight before McGrady scored seven straight points to put the Rockets up 81-68 with 4:47 to go. |
|