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HOUSTON, Texas: Tracy McGrady scored 30 points as Houston beat
Charlotte 89-80 Friday, giving the Rockets the second-longest win
streak in National Basketball Association history.
Besides owning a 21-game win streak, the Rockets
also join the Los Angeles Lakers at the top of the Western
Conference.
In surpassing the 20-game winning streak it
shared with the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks, Houston now trails only the
NBA-record 33-game victory string by 1971-72 Lakers.
McGrady played all 48 minutes in leading the
Rockets to the win.
“This was a great test to see how mentally
strong we really are,” McGrady said. “[Charlotte] brought their
‘A’ game. They played well, they executed their offense, they
were running out on us.
“Once we got into it, we didn’t look back.
This is pretty remarkable. I will always remember this. I am
definitely cherishing this moment.”
Rafer Alston scored 17 points and rookie Luis
Scola added 13 for the Rockets, who haven’t lost since falling to
the Utah Jazz, 97-89, on January 27. As a result, Houston (45-20)
now is tied with the Lakers (45-20) for the top spot in the Western
Conference.
The Rockets scored the first eight points of the
fourth quarter to turn a 64-62 advantage into a 10-point lead it
would not relinquish. Houston held Charlotte without a field goal
for the first 4:58 of the final period.
The Rockets held their biggest lead at 85-71 in
the fourth quarter following Mike Harris’ three-point play.
“We’ve got a good streak going here, but you
can’t get too high or two low,” Harris said. “After tonight,
you enjoy it, and then you come back in tomorrow, have a shoot
around and focus on the Lakers.”
-- AFP
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