Jan

26

No Yao? No Problem, Artest And Scola Send Rockets Past Pistons 108-105

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main 

Ron Artest 1.25a

The Houston Rockets rode a huge first quarter lead over the Detroit Pistons all the way to the buzzer at the end of the game, and held on to get a 108-105 win. Houston playing without starting center Yao Ming (0ut with a sore right knee, x-rays were negative) relied on Ron Artest who scored 24 points and Luis Scola who added 21 more to get the win at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The loss was the second straight for the Pistons who have lost 7 of their last 10 contests.

The Pistons have made a change in their starting lineup earlier this week, just not the right one. Rookie coach Michael Curry realized that he was not going to win with the lineup that had lost five straight games. That lineup was Rodney Stuckey, Allen Iverson, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Rasheed Wallace, which was an undersized unit. Curry told reporters after the loss to Houston that he went with the starting five that he thought gave him the best chance to win. The Pistons coach benched Hamilton, and started the cipher Kwame Brown.

I have written before on these pages that the Pistons have to get Jason Maxiell into their starting five. Why would Michael Curry choose Kwame Brown over Maxiell? Is the reason that ”Ripper” is coming off the bench due to a sore groin, or to pacify A.I. by not making him the sixth man? Does that mean that Iverson is part of Detroit’s long term plans? The Pistons are now 20-19 since trading Chauncey Billups for Iverson. That to this long time NBA observer speaks volumes. 

The Rockets basically built themselves a large enough cushion in the first to seal the victory, as they were on top 39-27. Detroit fought back hard in the second and were able to get their deficit down to a manageable number, as Houston lead was just 61-57 at the half. Iverson put the Pistons on top 69-68 when he split a pair at the line with 6:39 to play in the third. But the lead was short lived and Houston felt a lot more secure heading into the final 12 minutes in charge with a 89-81 advantage. Richard Hamilton was able to get the Pistons within 2 points of the Rockets twice in the last 23 seconds, but “Tru Warrior” Ron Artest answered back both times by draining a pair at the charity stripe to give Houston the win. 

Artest had 24 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, while Luis Scola dropped 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Tracy McGrady scored 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, while “Skip-To-My-Lu” otherwise known as Rafer Alston recorded a double-double, 14 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal. Shane Battier added 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks, while Von Wafer came off the bench with 10 points, and 2 rebounds.

Richard Hamilton came off the bench for Detroit and led all scorers with 27 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds, while Rasheed Wallace recorded a double-double 22 points, 11 boards, 2 assists, and 1 block. Allen Iverson scored 17 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal, Rodney Stuckey added 14 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds. Kwame Brown played 5 minutes, scored 0 points, and had 1 rebound. Houston is now 28-17, Detroit has a 24-19 record.

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Comments

2 Responses to “No Yao? No Problem, Artest And Scola Send Rockets Past Pistons 108-105”

  1. Reading is Great! Today’s NBA Rumors, Ramblings, and Ruminations - EmptyTheBench.com on January 26th, 2009 2:32 am

    [...] to eat popcorn on the bench. – Raptor Blog – On hating this version of the Toronto Raptors. – Slam Dunk Central – The Houston Rockets are the latest beneficiaries of a date in Detroit. – Fox Sports – Speaking of [...]

  2. john on January 26th, 2009 10:12 am

    The Rockets needed them badly. All of them. T-Mac, Ron and Scola. It is never easy going to place like Auburn Hills, getting a win there.

    I think Scola’s contribution was more crucial as in his case, he was stepping in for Yao. He did that last season when Yao’s was out. The Rockets went on a 20 games unbeaten run.

    Will there be able to emulate such feat again? Tomorrow against the Knicks much of that will be answered.

    http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com/2009/01/nba-news-scola-steps-in-for-yao.html

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