GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON (7-7) at LA CLIPPERS (6-6)

NBA: HOUSTON (7-7) at LA CLIPPERS (6-6)

<h3>McGrady, Rockets look to end four-game road slide at Clippers</h3>

Houston (7-7) at LA Clippers (6-6) 10:30 pm EST


LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Houston Rockets hope to build offtheir recent success when they open a four-game road tripagainst the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.


Superstar Tracy McGrady scored 35 points to help the Rocketssnap their a season-worst six-game losing streak with Saturday's109-81 victory over the Denver Nuggets.


"The way we played is the way we played the first six or sevengames," McGrady said. "This was a game that could have reallyset us back because we have a very tough road trip coming up.We knew we had to get this win to gain momentum for this roadtrip."


Despite missing two games last week with an injured elbow, the6-8 McGrady reached the 30-point plateau for the fifth thisseason.


The Rockets are also looking to end their four-game road slide,with their last win away from home coming on November 1 againstthe Utah Jazz.


The undermanned Clippers dropped their second straight game onSaturday - a 98-89 setback to the New Orleans Hornets at home.

Cuttino Mobley scored 20 points and Chris Kaman registered hisninth double-double of the campaign for Los Angeles, which haslost four of its last five games overall.


"It is a long season, but as of right now that's the way it is,"said Clippers forward Tim Thomas, who collected 13 points and12 boards in the loss.

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">HOUSTON VS LA CLIPPERS - INACTIVES

HOUSTON LA CLIPPERS

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
K LANGFORD COACH'S DECISION E BRAND KNEE INJURY
J POWELL COACH'S DECISION
S LIVINGSTON KNEE INJURY</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

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


HOUSTON LA CLIPPERS

F Shane Battier F Aaron Williams
F Chuck Hayes F Tim Thomas
C Yao Ming C Chris Kaman
G Tracy McGrady G Sam Cassell
G Rafer Alston G Quinton Ross

OFFICIALS: Jim Clark
Matt Boland
Benny Adams</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 4
LA CLIPPERS 6 8:57 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 12
LA CLIPPERS 13 6:01 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 17
LA CLIPPERS 18 2:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 21
LA CLIPPERS 24 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 21 21
LA CLIPPERS 24 24 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 8, RAFER ALSTON 7, YAO
MING 6
LAC - CHRIS KAMAN 10, COREY MAGGETTE 4, TIM
THOMAS 3</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 21
LA CLIPPERS 26 8:49 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 28
LA CLIPPERS 31 5:58 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 33
LA CLIPPERS 34 2:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 21 19 40
LA CLIPPERS 24 15 39 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 54
LA CLIPPERS 47 6:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 54
LA CLIPPERS 54 2:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 59
LA CLIPPERS 58 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 21 19 19 59
LA CLIPPERS 24 15 19 58 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 17, RAFER ALSTON 15, YAO
MING 11
LAC - CHRIS KAMAN 20, COREY MAGGETTE 14, TIM
THOMAS 11</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 71
LA CLIPPERS 63 8:59 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 83
LA CLIPPERS 67 3:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 83
LA CLIPPERS 69 0:57 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at LA CLIPPERS

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 88
LA CLIPPERS 71 FINAL</div>