Rather than coast in the regular-season finale, the Rockets' mainstays want to sustain the rhythm that has led to a five-game winning streak and treat Wednesday's visit to Utah as if it were the postseason opener.
McGrady led the Rockets with 39 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Yao added 34 points and nine rebounds. And with Shane Battier adding 17, the Rockets had enough to answer the 30 scored by Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion's 27 and Steve Nash's 15 points, 15 assists night.
Time, which has a way of sneaking up when we're looking the other way, caught Tracy McGrady when his head was turned.
The way the Utah Jazz have been playing, they weren't about to discount their 104-89 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night just because Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse and Erick Dampier sat out.
Tracy McGrady had 32 points and the Houston Rockets defeated the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers 99-95 Wednesday night for their 50th win of the season.
For Yao, whose work ethic may be unsurpassed in the NBA, his skill had accreted day by day, drill by drill, film session by film session, until he'd become a player unique not just in today's league but also in the history of the NBA.
A day after Rockets guard Bonzi Wells skipped Monday's game in Seattle, the Rockets have decided he will not play again this season, a person with knowledge of the Rockets' decision-making said Tuesday.
After his first game back following a game he missed because of a sore back, Rockets center Yao Ming was sore and in pain with dark bruises on his right forearm.
Stephen Jackson scored 28 points, Baron Davis had 19 and the long-suffering Golden State Warriors climbed into the playoff picture with a 126-102 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night.
Nick Collison's third-quarter takedown of Yao Ming shot a twinge of pain into Yao's left arm, and a stream of anger through the Houston Rockets.
Bonzi Wells' trying first season with the Houston Rockets took a strange turn on Monday night when the veteran guard didn't join his team for their game against the Seattle SuperSonics.
Tracy McGrady had 40 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in his return from a back injury, and the Houston Rockets made a late surge to snap a three-game losing streak with a 112-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.
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