Rockets Playing Out Of This Universe Win 18TH Straight Beat Hornets 106-96

The Houston Rockets are starting to play “Scary Good.” Do you remember in the movie “Pleasantville” the scene where the high school basketball team was warming up, and every shot went in the basket? Well the Rockets aren’t quite there yet, but they are at the next level down, as the have now won eighteen straight games, the latest being Saturday night against the New Orleans Hornets 106-96. Tracy McGrady led all scorers with 41 points, as Houston shot 50% (42-84) from the floor for the game. The Rockets have won their last nine games by double digits, and now have the third best record in the Western Conference.

This game basically was decided in the second quarter. New Orleans had the lead at the end of the?first quarter as they were ahead 23-20 at the end of the period. Houston heated up quickly in the second?quarter as they grabbed a 40-28 lead over the Hornets?as McGrady hit a 23 foot trey with 5:54 left in the? half. New?Orleans would cut the lead to 46-40 when Mo Peterson hit a 26 foot trey with 3:16 left in the quarter. But the Rockets would go on a 13-6 run to close?out the quarter, and they led 59-46 as the two teams went to the locker rooms at the half. New Orleans could never mount a serious come back in the second half.?They could get no closer than seven points in the third quarter as Houston led?81-72, at?the end of the period. And they could not cut the gap closer than?nine?points in the final 12 minutes of play.

McGrady scored 41 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the victory for Houston. Rafer Alston once gain had a good game as he scored 20 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, Shane Battier was the only other Houston player in double figures, as he score 10 points, 7 boards, 3 assists.

Chris?Paul deserved a better fate with the performance he put on, as he?recorded a double-double 37 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals. Tyson Chandler who should get serious consideration for Most Improved Player in the NBA also registered, a double-double 15 points, a game high 16 boards, 2 blocks, 2 assists, Peja Stojakovic was the third player on the Hornets roster to record a double-double as he scored 13 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist. Mo Peterson scored 12 points 3 rebounds, 1 assist. The Rockets who at one time in December had a record of 13-15 are now tied with New Orleans with a record of 42-20.