NBA: HOUSTON (6-6) at MIAMI (2-9) <h3>Rockets, Heat seek to end long losing droughts</h3> Houston (6-6) at Miami (2-9) 8:00 pm EST MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat cameinto this season with championship aspirations. Both teams arefalling short of meeting those expectations. The Rockets travel to American Airlines Arena on Friday to meetthe Heat. Houston started out the season winning six of it first seven buthas since dropped five straight. Some of that drought can beattributed to the loss of leading scorer Tracy McGrady, whomissed a week due to a strained right elbow. McGrady returned Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks after atwo-game absence but could not stop the bleeding in a 100-94loss. The 6-8 guard played 38 minutes and had 15 points and aseason-high 12 assists. The return of guard Dwyane Wade was supposed to help the Heatsnap out of their 1-6 start. However, the three-time All-Star has only been able to propelMiami to one win in four games since his return from offseasonshoulder and knee surgeries, despite averaging 18.8 points and6.3 assists per game. Miami's last loss was a 82-79 setback to the Atlanta Hawks - anembarrassment considering the Hawks had dropped 17 straight roadgames. As a result of the loss, Miami fell to 0-5 at home.
NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI <div class="pre">HOUSTON AT MIAMI - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS HOUSTON MIAMI F Shane Battier F Udonis Haslem F Chuck Hayes F Ricky Davis C Yao Ming C Shaquille O'Neal G Tracy McGrady G Dwyane Wade G Rafer Alston G Jason Williams OFFICIALS: Bob Delaney Monty McCutchen Orlandis Poole</div>
NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI <div class="pre">HOUSTON VS MIAMI - INACTIVES HOUSTON MIAMI PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON A BROOKS COACH'S DECISION E BARRON COACH'S DECISION C LANDRY COACH'S DECISION C QUINN COACH'S DECISION J ANTHONY COACH'S DECISION</div>
NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI <div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- HOUSTON 24 24 MIAMI 26 26 END 1ST QTR HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 8, YAO MING 7, LUIS SCOLA 4 MIA - SHAQUILLE O'NEAL 8, RICKY DAVIS 4, DWYANE WADE 4</div>
NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI <div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- HOUSTON 24 25 49 MIAMI 26 24 50 HALFTIME HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 15, LUIS SCOLA 12, YAO MING 9 MIA - SHAQUILLE O'NEAL 14, DWYANE WADE 9, RICKY DAVIS 7</div>
NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI <div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- HOUSTON 24 25 18 67 MIAMI 26 24 24 74 END 3RD QTR HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER HOU - YAO MING 17, TRACY MCGRADY 15, LUIS SCOLA 12 MIA - SHAQUILLE O'NEAL 24, DWYANE WADE 15, RICKY DAVIS 10</div>
