GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON at CHARLOTTE

NBA: HOUSTON at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 14 21 25 25 85
CHARLOTTE 15 25 25 17 82 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: HOU - YAO MING 34, TRACY MCGRADY 26, RAFER
ALSTON 6
CHA - MATT CARROLL 17, JASON RICHARDSON 16,
RAYMOND FELTON 16</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
HOUSTON 85
CHARLOTTE 82 FINAL</div>

 

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Yao Ming and TracyMcGrady had to do it all by themselves for the Houston Rockets.

Yao and McGrady combined to score 60 points and made theirpresence felt on both ends of the floor down the stretch as theRockets posted an 85-82 comeback victory over the CharlotteBobcats on the road Sunday night.


The Rockets did not have another scorer in double figures butmanaged to ride their two superstars in the final period,outscoring the Bobcats by eight points over the final 12 minutesto secure the victory.


Considered one of the top inside-outside tandems in the NBA, Yaoand McGrady took turns blitzing Charlotte, which held afive-point advantage entering the fourth quarter.


Overall, Yao scored 34 points on 13-of-15 from the field and8-of-8 from the free-throw line, and McGrady netted 26 on9-of-20 from the floor and added eight rebounds and fourassists.


But it was not easy for the Rockets in the final minutes.

After Raymond Felton's two free throws gave the Bobcats aone-point lead with 38.1 seconds left, Yao grabbed a hugeoffensive rebound off Rafer Alston's errant 3-pointer on theensuing possession.


The 7-5 Yao was fouled on his attempted putback and made twofree throws to give the Rockets the lead for good with 20.4seconds left.


After a timeout, Charlotte had a chance to take the lead, butGerald Wallace was called for a questionable offensive foulwhile driving on McGrady with 3.5 ticks left. The energeticBobcats swingman was nabbed for extending his forearm on thedrive - effectively sealing the win for Houston.


It was all Charlotte until the final minutes.


Matt Carroll's third 3-pointer of the game gave the Bobcats a74-67 lead with 6:01 to play and seeming sealed the game. ButYao and McGrady went on a 7-2 run cut the Rockets' deficit totwo with 2:54 to play.


The Bobcats pushed their lead to nine, 69-60, quickly in fourthafter baskets by Emeka Okafor and Wallace. Houston then reeledoff seven quick points of its own to get back in the game yetagain, capped by a 3-pointer from Mike James.


Alston's shot from the arc gave Houston a 43-42 lead after an8-2 run opened the third quarter for the Rockets.


The Bobcats regained the lead at 50-49 on Felton's second3-pointer of the game, and then added to it on the nextpossession with a three-point play by center Ryan Hollins.

Charlotte rookie Jared Dudley put the Bobcats ahead 57-54 on ajumper from the left wing. After Rockets forward Luis Scola'slayup, a 3-pointer by Carroll extended Charlotte's advantage to60-56 late in the third quarter.


Okafor had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats.

 

NBA: HOUSTON at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (85) AT CHARLOTTE (82)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S BATTIER F 36:13 0-4 2-4 3 7 10 0 3 0 3 2
C HAYES F 22:26 1-3 0-0 2 6 8 1 1 2 0 2
Y MING C 39:57 13-15 8-8 2 6 8 4 4 0 6 34
T MCGRADY G 36:10 9-20 7-9 2 6 8 4 0 1 3 26
R ALSTON G 29:23 2-9 0-0 1 1 2 3 1 1 1 6
L SCOLA 15:44 1-3 4-4 1 2 3 0 3 0 0 6
B WELLS 25:31 1-6 0-0 0 6 6 3 3 1 3 2
M JAMES 21:58 1-5 2-2 0 1 1 2 1 1 3 5
L HEAD 12:38 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 2
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K SNYDER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A BROOKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 29-67 23-27 11 36 47 18 17 6 19 85
(.433) (.852) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 20 (19 PTS)

CHARLOTTE

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

G WALLACE F 35:53 4-13 2-2 1 4 5 2 3 2 3 10
E OKAFOR F 35:11 4-9 4-5 1 10 11 0 6 3 3 12
P BREZEC C 14:03 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 2
J RICHARDSON G 38:33 7-21 1-1 2 4 6 3 2 2 3 16
R FELTON G 38:25 6-15 2-2 0 4 4 4 1 2 1 16
R HOLLINS 14:22 2-4 3-3 3 2 5 0 1 1 0 7
M CARROLL 29:52 6-10 2-2 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 17
J MCINNIS 20:52 0-2 0-0 1 0 1 7 2 1 1 0
J DUDLEY 12:49 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 2
D ANDERSON DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J DAVIDSON DNP - COACH'S DECISION
W HERRMANN DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 31-78 14-15 8 26 34 19 22 11 12 82
(.397) (.933) TEAM REBS: 4 TOTAL TO: 13 (16 PTS)

HOUSTON 14 21 25 25 - 85
CHARLOTTE 15 25 25 17 - 82

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - Y MING 3, S BATTIER 2, B WELLS, C HAYES. CHARLOTTE -
E OKAFOR 2, R HOLLINS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 4-14 (.286), S BATTIER 0-3, T MCGRADY 1-
3, R ALSTON 2-5, M JAMES 1-2, L HEAD 0-1. CHARLOTTE 6-14 (.429), G WALLACE 0-
2, J RICHARDSON 1-4, R FELTON 2-4, M CARROLL 3-4.
TECHNICAL FOULS: CHARLOTTE - DEFENSIVE THREE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JOE FORTE, MONTY MCCUTCHEN, ZACH ZARBA.
A - 11,936. T - 2:15.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at CHARLOTTE

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (85)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Battier 36:13 0-4 2-4 3-10 0 3 2
C Hayes 22:26 1-3 0-0 2-8 1 1 2
Y Ming 39:57 13-15 8-8 2-8 4 4 34
T McGrady 36:10 9-20 7-9 2-8 4 0 26
R Alston 29:23 2-9 0-0 1-2 3 1 6
L Scola 15:44 1-3 4-4 1-3 0 3 6
B Wells 25:31 1-6 0-0 0-6 3 3 2
M James 21:58 1-5 2-2 0-1 2 1 5
L Head 12:38 1-2 0-0 0-1 1 1 2
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K Snyder DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A Brooks DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 29-67 23-27 11-47 18 17 85
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.433, FT-.852. 3-Point Goals:
4-14, .286 (S Battier 0-3, T McGrady 1-3, R
Alston 2-5, M James 1-2, L Head 0-1). Team
Rebounds: 5. Blocked Shots:7 (Y Ming 3, S
Battier 2, B Wells, C Hayes). Turnovers:19 (Y
Ming 6, T McGrady 3, B Wells 3, S Battier 3,
M James 3, R Alston). Steals: 6 (C Hayes 2, T
McGrady, B Wells, R Alston, M James).


CHARLOTTE (82)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
G Wallace 35:53 4-13 2-2 1-5 2 3 10
E Okafor 35:11 4-9 4-5 1-11 0 6 12
P Brezec 14:03 1-2 0-0 0-1 1 2 2
J Richardson 38:33 7-21 1-1 2-6 3 2 16
R Felton 38:25 6-15 2-2 0-4 4 1 16
R Hollins 14:22 2-4 3-3 3-5 0 1 7
M Carroll 29:52 6-10 2-2 0-0 1 3 17
J McInnis 20:52 0-2 0-0 1-1 7 2 0
J Dudley 12:49 1-2 0-0 0-1 1 2 2
D Anderson DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J Davidson DNP - COACH'S DECISION
W Herrmann DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 31-78 14-15 8-34 19 22 82
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.397, FT-.933. 3-Point Goals:
6-14, .429 (G Wallace 0-2, J Richardson 1-4,
R Felton 2-4, M Carroll 3-4). Team Rebounds:
4. Blocked Shots:3 (E Okafor 2, R Hollins).
Turnovers:12 (G Wallace 3, J Richardson 3, E
Okafor 3, J McInnis, R Felton, J Dudley).
Steals: 11 (E Okafor 3, G Wallace 2, J
Richardson 2, R Felton 2, J McInnis, R
Hollins).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 14 21 25 25 - 85
CHARLOTTE 15 25 25 17 - 82
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Charlotte - 1 (Defensive
Three, 1:44 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 11,936. T: 2:15.
Officials: Joe Forte, Monty McCutchen, Zach
Zarba.</div>

 

<div class="pre">CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Yao Ming and Tracy</div>McGrady had to do it all by themselves for the Houston Rockets.

Yao and McGrady combined to score 60 points and made theirpresence felt on both ends of the floor down the stretch as theRockets posted an 85-82 comeback victory over the CharlotteBobcats on the road Sunday night.


The Rockets did not have another scorer in double figures butmanaged to ride their two superstars in the final period,outscoring the Bobcats by eight points over the final 12 minutesto secure the victory.


"Down the stretch, we did what we had to do," Houston coach RickAdelman said. "We made some good stops and we executed. Tracywas terrific down the stretch, and Yao was good the wholegame."


"Tonight was one of those nights where our play on the courtwasn't pretty," Houston forward Shane Battier. "Thank the goodLord for Yao and Tracy. Charlotte is a tough team at home. Wejust made some key plays at the end to pull out the win."

Considered one of the top inside-outside tandems in the NBA, Yaoand McGrady took turns blitzing Charlotte, which held afive-point advantage entering the fourth quarter.


"I don't think there's a better 1-2 combination," Charlotteforward Gerald Wallace said. "Tracy is a great offensiveplayer. He can create his own shot or get to the basket andfinish.


"And Yao, once he posts in the block, he is so hard to guard.Once he gets the ball, he is almost unstoppable and is also agreat passer. That might be the best 1-2 combination since(Michael Jordan) and (Scottie) Pippen."


Overall, Yao scored 34 points on 13-of-15 from the field and8-of-8 from the free-throw line, and McGrady netted 26 on9-of-20 from the floor and added eight rebounds and fourassists.


But it was not easy for the Rockets in the final minutes.

After Raymond Felton's two free throws gave the Bobcats aone-point lead with 38.1 seconds left, Yao grabbed a hugeoffensive rebound off Rafer Alston's errant 3-pointer on theensuing possession.


"I saw the ball come to me," Yao said. "I said I cannot letthis go. I was in the perfect position and just grabbed it."

The 7-5 Yao was fouled on his attempted putback and made twofree throws to give the Rockets the lead for good with 20.4seconds left.


After a timeout, Charlotte had a chance to take the lead, butGerald Wallace was called for a questionable offensive foulwhile driving on McGrady with 3.5 ticks left. The energeticBobcats swingman was nabbed for extending his forearm on thedrive - effectively sealing the win for Houston.


"I penetrated to the basket, and I felt like I got fouled, butthey said I pushed off," Wallace said.


It was all Charlotte until the final minutes.


"This was a game that we should have lost because we didn't playparticularly well," McGrady said. "It just goes to show howgood we can be."


Matt Carroll's third 3-pointer of the game gave the Bobcats a74-67 lead with 6:01 to play and seeming sealed the game. ButYao and McGrady went on a 7-2 run cut the Rockets' deficit totwo with 2:54 to play.


"We executed our game plan well," Carroll said. "But it camedown to a couple of possessions at the end. That's the NBA. Wejust couldn't pull it out."


The Bobcats pushed their lead to nine, 69-60, quickly in fourthafter baskets by Emeka Okafor and Wallace. Houston then reeledoff seven quick points of its own to get back in the game yetagain, capped by a 3-pointer from Mike James.


Alston's shot from the arc gave Houston a 43-42 lead after an8-2 run opened the third quarter for the Rockets.


The Bobcats regained the lead at 50-49 on Felton's second3-pointer of the game, and then added to it on the nextpossession with a three-point play by center Ryan Hollins.

Charlotte rookie Jared Dudley put the Bobcats ahead 57-54 on ajumper from the left wing. After Rockets forward Luis Scola'slayup, a 3-pointer by Carroll extended Charlotte's advantage to60-56 late in the third quarter.


Okafor had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats.

 

Re: NBA: HOUSTON at CHARLOTTE

Talk about bittersweet.</p>

It sux that our roleplayers didn't play well and that we had to depend on our dynamic duo. That being said, It's great to see us actually play well in the 4th quarter. We've had issues closing out games for the past 4 seasons. It's good to see us play well in the dying minutes to snatch the victory...</p>