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Rockets defeat Celtics 91-73; Yao hit in right eye
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-08 08:41
Boston looked better with Pierce on the bench. Delonte West sank a 3-pointer
and drove past Stromile Swift for a layup during an 8-0 run that cut the
Rockets' lead to 61-54.
 Houston rebuilt its edge to 11 by the fourth quarter,
leading after three for the sixth time this season. The Rockets had blown two of
those leads, but McGrady made sure it wouldn't happen this time.
He scored twice in the first minute of the quarter, prompting Boston coach
Doc Rivers to send Pierce to the scorers' table.
The move didn't work.
McGrady sank two 3-pointers over Ricky Davis and blocked Pierce on a driving
layup as Houston's lead swelled to 76-61.
Pierce swished a 3-pointer over McGrady with 7:06 to go, but the Rockets
still led by 12 and cruised from there.
The Celtics finished 23-of-67 from the field (34 percent). Raef LaFrentz, who
sank seven 3-pointers and scored 32 in Boston's 102-82 win over Houston on Nov.
13, went 0-for-6 in the rematch.
Suns Scoring, Winning Like Last Season
Though the
players are different, the offense and the results look very familiar. The
Phoenix Suns have the NBA's longest winning streak, and just like last season,
they have the league's top offense.
James Jones scored 22 points, Raja Bell added 21, and the Suns extended their
winning streak to seven straight with a 130-85 victory over the Portland Trail
Blazers on Tuesday night.
After a slow start, the defending Pacific Division champions have climbed
within a half-game of the division lead. The Suns are averaging 105 points after
scoring an NBA-high 110.4 per game last season �� even though they won't have
leading scorer Amare Stoudemire until later in the season.
"We really want to establish ourselves early in the season, and get something
going early in games, especially with the absence of Amare," Jones said. "It's
going to take some time to gel when Amare gets back, and we want to put
ourselves in the best position possible for when that time comes."
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