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| Memphis Grizzlies Lorenzen Wright (42) defends against Houston Rockets Yao Ming (11),
of China, during the first quarter Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004
in Houston. [Agencies] |
Juwan Howard scored 20 points, Yao Ming added 14
points and 11 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets kept Memphis winless this
season, beating the Grizzlies 90-87 on Tuesday night despite losing Tracy
McGrady to a hip injury.
Playing only his second home game in Houston, McGrady left midway
through the third quarter with a right hip strain and didn't return. He
finished with 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
The star guard limped out
of the arena after the game and said he wasn't sure if he would be able to
play Thursday against Minnesota.
The Rockets have won three straight since losing their first two games
of the season in Detroit and Toronto. They've beaten the Grizzlies twice
during that streak, sandwiching those wins around a victory over
Sacramento on Saturday.
Howard, one of the forgotten players in the summer trade with Orlando
that fetched McGrady, picked up the scoring slack in his teammate's
absence.
 The Rockets' newest sixth man shot 7-of-12 from the field and
made all six free throws, providing a timely boost on a night when
Houston's preferred 1-2 scoring punch of Yao and McGrady was nowhere near
peak efficiency.
Houston also managed to overcome some extremely sloppy ball handling,
committing 24 turnovers that led to 26 points for Memphis.
The Grizzlies were hurt by the absence of forward James Posey, a former
Rocket, who missed the game with a sprained left foot. Shane Battier took
his spot in the lineup, going 2-of-4 for six points.
Stromile Swift led the
Grizzlies with 18 points, Pau Gasol added 15 and Bonzi Wells
had 13.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-11-10 09:48