Rookie Landry Leads Rockets Past Pacers 106-103

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main

????????????????????????????????????? Houston Rockets forward Carl Landry (#14) puts up a shot as Indiana Pacers forward Shawne Williams defends during the first half of their game, played Friday night. Landry scored a career-high 22 points, leading Houston past Indiana, 106-103. ?

On most nights, the Houston Rockets rely on either Tracy McGrady or Yao Ming for their offensive needs.? But during the Rockets contest against the Indiana Pacers Friday night, they got some offense from an unexpected (maybe not now after tonight) source – rookie Carl Landry.? Landry scored a career-high 22 points, leading the Rockets to the 106-103 win over the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Rockets and Pacers played the first quarter fairly close, with Houston holding a slim 25-23 lead; the Rockets held their largest lead of the first half, 50-42, on a jumper by Landry with 3:30 left in the half.? Indiana would score the final 5 points of the half, slicing the Rockets’ lead to 54-53 at halftime.? Houston opened a 72-67 advantage in the thord quarter, but the Pacers’ Danny Granger drained two 3-pointers and David Harrison made a pair of free throws, giving Indiana a 75-74 lead with 2 minutes left in the period.

With the score knotted up at 79 entering the fourth quarter, the Pacers opened up a 97-92 lead on a Granger jumper with 5:30 left in the game; the Rockets would respond with a 9-2 run, including 5 points from Landry, to give Houston a 101-99 edge.? Landry’s free throw gave the Rockets a 104-101 lead with 47 seconds remaining; but Indiana’s Mike Dunleavy would make a layup, cutting their deficit to 104-103 with 30 seconds left.? Following a Houston turnover, the Pacers had a chance to take the lead, but Travis Diener missed a 3-point attempt.? Houston’s Shane Battier made a pair of free throws, sealing the win for the Rockets.

Houston’s leading scorer was the aforementioned Landry with a career-high 22 points, 7 rebounds and a blocked shot; McGrady scored 19 – including 3 treys – with 5 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals, while Ming added 17 while grabbing 12 boards and blocking a shot.? Indiana was led by Granger with 22 points – including three 3-pointers?with 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a pair of steals; Shawne Williams, from off the bench, scored 17 on 7-of-9 shooting – including 3 treys – in a losing effort.? Houston (26-20) now makes the short journey to Milwaukee to face the Bucks on Saturday, while Indiana (19-28) continues their homestand by hosting the Orlando Magic – also on Saturday.

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