GAME THREAD: NBA: PHOENIX (7-2) at HOUSTON (6-4)

NBA: PHOENIX (7-2) at HOUSTON (6-4)

<h3>Likely without McGrady, Rockets search for offense vs. Suns</h3>

<div class="pre">Phoenix (7-2) at Houston (6-4) 8:30 pm EST</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- For the Houston Rockets, finding offensewithout Tracy McGrady figures to be tough. It's a problem theybetter address quickly if they hope to keep pace with one of theNBA's best offenses.


The Rockets will welcome the high-scoring Phoenix Suns into theToyota Center on Saturday.


McGrady sprained his right elbow in Wednesday's 93-90 loss tothe Los Angeles Lakers. He missed Friday's 90-84 loss at SanAntonio, and is questionable for this contest.


Maybe not coincidentally, the Rockets' 84 points against theSpurs were a season low. A repeat of that performance would notbode well against a Suns' team that is averaging 106.1 percontest.


On a positive note, Luis Scola stepped up in McGrady's absenceto score a career-high 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting from thefield.


The Rockets will need a repeat of that performance if they hopeto end their recent slide against the Suns, who have won 11 ofthe last 14 meetings between the teams.


Phoenix, which has won all seven times this season it has scoredat least 100 points, is 7-2 for the sixth time in franchisehistory and the second time in four seasons.


Leandro Barbosa hit five 3-pointers and scored 25 points and GrantHill added 24 points, leading the Suns to a 112-102 victory overthe Chicago Bulls on Thursday night.

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PHOENIX AT HOUSTON - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


PHOENIX HOUSTON

F Grant Hill F Shane Battier
F Shawn Marion F Chuck Hayes
C Amare Stoudemire C Yao Ming
G Steve Nash G Bonzi Wells
G Raja Bell G Rafer Alston

OFFICIALS: Luis Grillo
Bob Delaney
Orlandis Poole</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PHOENIX AT HOUSTON - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS

REVISED LINEUPS

PHOENIX HOUSTON

F Grant Hill F Shane Battier
F Shawn Marion F Chuck Hayes
C Amare Stoudemire C Yao Ming
G Steve Nash G Bonzi Wells
G Leandro Barbosa G Rafer Alston

OFFICIALS: Luis Grillo
Bob Delaney
Orlandis Poole</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PHOENIX VS HOUSTON - INACTIVES

PHOENIX HOUSTON

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
R BELL ANKLE INJURY T MCGRADY LEFT ELBOW INJURY
C LANDRY COACH'S DECISION</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PHOENIX AT HOUSTON - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


PHOENIX HOUSTON

F Grant Hill F Shane Battier
F Shawn Marion F Chuck Hayes
C Amare Stoudemire C Yao Ming
G Steve Nash G Mike James
G Leandro Barbosa G Rafer Alston

OFFICIALS: Luis Grillo
Bob Delaney
Orlandis Poole</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 10
HOUSTON 8 8:47 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 19
HOUSTON 17 6:03 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 27
HOUSTON 21 3:05 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 37
HOUSTON 30 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 37 37
HOUSTON 30 30 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

PHO - GRANT HILL 10, STEVE NASH 7, SHAWN
MARION 6
HOU - MIKE JAMES 14, LUIS SCOLA 6, RAFER
ALSTON 3</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 44
HOUSTON 37 8:46 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 50
HOUSTON 46 5:56 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 60
HOUSTON 51 3:05 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 69
HOUSTON 57 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHOENIX 37 32 69
HOUSTON 30 27 57 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

PHO - LEANDRO BARBOSA 15, GRANT HILL 14, STEVE
NASH 12
HOU - MIKE JAMES 15, LUIS SCOLA 14, LUTHER
HEAD 8</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 73
HOUSTON 65 8:38 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 78
HOUSTON 69 5:52 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 86
HOUSTON 72 2:50 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA PHOENIX 94
HOUSTON 76 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: PHOENIX at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">CORRECTION

NBA PHOENIX 94
HOUSTON 76 END, 3RD QTR</div>