GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON (6-6) at MIAMI (2-9)

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 HOUSTON 4
MIAMI 9 8:28 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 11
MIAMI 17 5:33 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 18
MIAMI 19 2:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 24
MIAMI 26 END, 1ST QTR</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 HOUSTON 28
MIAMI 35 9:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 37
MIAMI 37 5:53 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 42
MIAMI 41 3:16 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 49
MIAMI 50 HALFTIME</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 HOUSTON 60
MIAMI 61 8:26 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 65
MIAMI 66 6:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 66
MIAMI 70 2:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 67
MIAMI 74 END, 3RD QTR</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>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 75
MIAMI 80 8:25 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 81
MIAMI 85 0:53 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>