GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON (9-7) at GOLDEN STATE (7-7)

NBA: HOUSTON (9-7) at GOLDEN STATE (7-7)

<h3>Rockets seek fourth straight win</h3>

<div class="pre">Houston (9-7) at Golden State (7-7) 10:30 pm EST</div>

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Houston Rockets brought "TheFranchise" out of hiding on Wednesday, which could spell badnews for the Golden State Warriors.


Steve Francis will try to get his legs under him for a secondstraight game when the Rockets visit the Warriors on Thursday.

Francis had played in just three of Houston's first 15 gamesbefore logging a season-high 27 minutes in Wednesday's 100-94win at Phoenix. Showing an ability to create for himself withseven points in the second quarter and a defensive tenacity witha pair of steals and a pair of blocks, it could be difficultfor Rockets coach Rick Adelman to keep Francis on the bench anylonger.


Golden State will also have to find an answer for the dominantduo of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, who combined to score 49 ofHouston's 100 points on Wednesday. McGrady is averaging 29.7points during the Rockets' winning streak.


The Warriors are on a role as well, having won four straight toreach .500 for the first time this season.


Team captain Stephen Jackson hit a pair of key 3-pointers in thefourth quarter and Matt Barnes scored 22 points to lead GoldenState to a 103-96 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

Jackson was suspended for the first seven games of the season asthe Warriors struggled to a 1-6 start. Since his return, theclub has gone 6-1, losing only to the Boston Celtics and scoringat least 100 points in each of their wins.

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

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


HOUSTON GOLDEN STATE

F Shane Battier F Stephen Jackson
F Chuck Hayes F Al Harrington
C Yao Ming C Andris Biedrins
G Tracy McGrady G Monta Ellis
G Rafer Alston G Baron Davis

OFFICIALS: Scott Foster
James Capers
John Gobel</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">HOUSTON VS GOLDEN STATE - INACTIVES

HOUSTON GOLDEN STATE

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
A BROOKS COACH'S DECISION M PIETRUS COACH'S DECISION
C LANDRY COACH'S DECISION M BELINELLI COACH'S DECISION
B WRIGHT COACH'S DECISION</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 3
GOLDEN STATE 10 8:30 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 5
GOLDEN STATE 18 5:40 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 16
GOLDEN STATE 23 3:02 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 24
GOLDEN STATE 29 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 24 24
GOLDEN STATE 29 29 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

HOU - RAFER ALSTON 8, TRACY MCGRADY 6, YAO
MING 4
GSW - BARON DAVIS 10, STEPHEN JACKSON 7, AL
HARRINGTON 5</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 33
GOLDEN STATE 33 8:53 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 40
GOLDEN STATE 40 5:48 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 42
GOLDEN STATE 50 2:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 50
GOLDEN STATE 59 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 24 26 50
GOLDEN STATE 29 30 59 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 9, STEVE FRANCIS 8, RAFER
ALSTON 8
GSW - BARON DAVIS 17, STEPHEN JACKSON 16, AL
HARRINGTON 11</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 53
GOLDEN STATE 68 9:09 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 58
GOLDEN STATE 74 5:36 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 62
GOLDEN STATE 77 2:39 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 68
GOLDEN STATE 83 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 24 26 18 68
GOLDEN STATE 29 30 24 83 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 11, MIKE JAMES 11, YAO
MING 10
GSW - BARON DAVIS 20, AL HARRINGTON 18,
STEPHEN JACKSON 18</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 80
GOLDEN STATE 98 5:40 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 86
GOLDEN STATE 108 2:47 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>