GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: DETROIT (15-6) at HOUSTON (11-11)

NBA: DETROIT at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DETROIT 16 17 22 22 77
HOUSTON 18 20 19 23 80 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: DET - RASHEED WALLACE 21, CHAUNCEY BILLUPS 15,
RICHARD HAMILTON 14
HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 29, YAO MING 21, RAFER
ALSTON 10</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
DETROIT 77
HOUSTON 80 FINAL</div>

 

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Tracy McGrady scored 29 points and YaoMing added 21 and 13 rebounds as the Houston Rockets held on foran 80-77 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

It was Houston's sixth win in 11 outings despite connecting onjust 27 percent (6-of-22) from the free-throw line.

But Yao sank two free throws and made a hook over RasheedWallace to give the Rockets a 79-71 advantage with 1:58 left inthe fourth quarter.


However, Detroit rallied within two as Wallace knocked down adeep 3-pointer from the top of the key and Richard Hamiltonadded another just seconds later to slice the deficit to 79-77at the 1:22 mark.


After both teams went empty on consecutive possessions, Detroithad two good attempts on possible game-winning 3-pointers, butWallace misfired from the right wing and Chauncey Billups cameup short with two seconds left.


Yao split a pair from the line, giving the Pistons one last tryto pull it out, but Rafer Alston stripped Antonio McDyess on anattempted shot from the arc as the horn sounded.


Alston finished with 10 points and six assists in this one aftermissing the previous two contests because of a strained groin.

Wallace poured in 21 points to lead three other starters indouble figures as Detroit watched its four-game road winningstreak come to an end.

 

NBA: DETROIT at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">DETROIT (77) AT HOUSTON (80)

DETROIT

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

C BILLUPS G 36:34 6-17 3-5 1 2 3 7 0 2 2 15
R HAMILTON G 39:06 6-15 0-0 0 3 3 3 1 0 1 14
A MCDYESS F 31:07 5-12 2-2 2 6 8 0 4 1 1 12
T PRINCE F 35:43 2-5 0-0 2 2 4 1 1 1 0 4
R WALLACE C 32:41 7-17 5-5 1 7 8 2 6 0 1 21
J MAXIELL 32:11 3-7 3-6 5 8 13 0 1 0 1 9
R MURRAY 11:26 1-5 0-4 0 1 1 1 2 0 2 2
J HAYES 12:18 0-4 0-0 0 2 2 0 2 0 0 0
A AFFLALO 8:54 0-1 0-0 1 1 2 1 1 0 1 0

TOTALS 240:00 30-83 13-22 12 32 44 15 18 4 9 77
(.361) (.591) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 9 (0 PTS)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

R ALSTON G 35:10 4-8 0-0 0 3 3 6 2 1 1 10
T MCGRADY G 41:33 13-25 0-5 0 3 3 6 1 2 3 29
C HAYES F 41:27 2-7 0-0 5 6 11 4 1 2 2 4
S BATTIER F 36:05 1-3 0-0 2 7 9 4 1 0 2 2
Y MING C 43:49 9-21 3-6 2 11 13 3 2 1 1 21
L HEAD 19:18 2-4 1-2 0 5 5 0 2 0 2 6
B WELLS 11:55 3-5 2-9 1 2 3 1 3 0 0 8
L SCOLA 10:43 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 0

TOTALS 240:00 34-74 6-22 10 37 47 25 15 6 12 80
(.459) (.273) TEAM REBS: 16 TOTAL TO: 13 (0 PTS)

DETROIT 16 17 22 22 - 77
HOUSTON 18 20 19 23 - 80

BLOCKED SHOTS: DETROIT - A MCDYESS, R WALLACE. HOUSTON - Y MING 4,
R ALSTON 2, C HAYES 2.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DETROIT 4-15 (.267), C BILLUPS 0-4, R HAMILTON 2-
2, A MCDYESS 0-1, R WALLACE 2-6, J HAYES 0-1, A AFFLALO 0-1. HOUSTON 6-
15 (.400), R ALSTON 2-6, T MCGRADY 3-6, L HEAD 1-3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DETROIT - R WALLACE. HOUSTON - Y MING, B WELLS.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BILL SPOONER, DICK BAVETTA, LEROY RICHARDSON.
A - 17,453. T - 2:30.</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">DETROIT (77)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
C Billups 36:34 6-17 3-5 1-3 7 0 15
R Hamilton 39:06 6-15 0-0 0-3 3 1 14
A McDyess 31:07 5-12 2-2 2-8 0 4 12
T Prince 35:43 2-5 0-0 2-4 1 1 4
R Wallace 32:41 7-17 5-5 1-8 2 6 21
J Maxiell 32:11 3-7 3-6 5-13 0 1 9
R Murray 11:26 1-5 0-4 0-1 1 2 2
J Hayes 12:18 0-4 0-0 0-2 0 2 0
A Afflalo 8:54 0-1 0-0 1-2 1 1 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 30-83 13-22 12-44 15 18 77
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.361, FT-.591. 3-Point Goals:
4-15, .267 (C Billups 0-4, R Hamilton 2-2, A
McDyess 0-1, R Wallace 2-6, J Hayes 0-1, A
Afflalo 0-1). Team Rebounds: 11. Blocked
Shots:2 (A McDyess, R Wallace). Turnovers:9
(C Billups 2, R Murray 2, A McDyess, R
Hamilton, A Afflalo, J Maxiell, R Wallace).
Steals: 4 (C Billups 2, A McDyess, T Prince).


HOUSTON (80)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Alston 35:10 4-8 0-0 0-3 6 2 10
T McGrady 41:33 13-25 0-5 0-3 6 1 29
C Hayes 41:27 2-7 0-0 5-11 4 1 4
S Battier 36:05 1-3 0-0 2-9 4 1 2
Y Ming 43:49 9-21 3-6 2-13 3 2 21
L Head 19:18 2-4 1-2 0-5 0 2 6
B Wells 11:55 3-5 2-9 1-3 1 3 8
L Scola 10:43 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 3 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 34-74 6-22 10-47 25 15 80
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.459, FT-.273. 3-Point Goals:
6-15, .400 (R Alston 2-6, T McGrady 3-6, L
Head 1-3). Team Rebounds: 16. Blocked Shots:8
(Y Ming 4, R Alston 2, C Hayes 2).
Turnovers:12 (T McGrady 3, S Battier 2, C
Hayes 2, L Head 2, R Alston, L Scola, Y
Ming). Steals: 6 (T McGrady 2, C Hayes 2, R
Alston, Y Ming).

-------------------------------------------
DETROIT 16 17 22 22 - 77
HOUSTON 18 20 19 23 - 80
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Detroit - 1 (R Wallace, 8:48
4th). Houston - 2 (Y Ming, 2:39 1st; B Wells,
8:48 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 17,453. T: 2:30.
Officials: Bill Spooner, Dick Bavetta, Leroy
Richardson.</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">DETROIT (77) AT HOUSTON (80)

DETROIT

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

C BILLUPS G 36:34 6-17 3-5 1 2 3 7 0 2 2 15
R HAMILTON G 39:06 6-15 0-0 0 3 3 3 1 0 1 14
A MCDYESS F 31:07 5-12 2-2 2 6 8 0 4 1 1 12
T PRINCE F 35:43 2-5 0-0 2 2 4 1 1 1 0 4
R WALLACE C 32:41 7-17 5-5 1 7 8 2 6 0 1 21
J MAXIELL 32:11 3-7 3-6 5 8 13 0 1 0 1 9
R MURRAY 11:26 1-5 0-4 0 1 1 1 2 0 2 2
J HAYES 12:18 0-4 0-0 0 2 2 0 2 0 0 0
A AFFLALO 8:54 0-1 0-0 1 1 2 1 1 0 1 0
L HUNTER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
N MOHAMMED DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A JOHNSON DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 30-83 13-22 12 32 44 15 18 4 9 77
(.361) (.591) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 9 (13 PTS)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

R ALSTON G 35:10 4-8 0-0 0 3 3 6 2 1 1 10
T MCGRADY G 41:33 13-25 0-5 0 3 3 6 1 2 3 29
C HAYES F 41:27 2-7 0-0 5 6 11 4 1 2 2 4
S BATTIER F 36:05 1-3 0-0 2 7 9 4 1 0 2 2
Y MING C 43:49 9-21 3-6 2 11 13 3 2 1 1 21
L HEAD 19:18 2-4 1-2 0 5 5 0 2 0 2 6
B WELLS 11:55 3-5 2-9 1 2 3 1 3 0 0 8
L SCOLA 10:43 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 0
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S FRANCIS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M JAMES DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K SNYDER DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 34-74 6-22 10 37 47 25 15 6 12 80
(.459) (.273) TEAM REBS: 16 TOTAL TO: 13 (11 PTS)

DETROIT 16 17 22 22 - 77
HOUSTON 18 20 19 23 - 80

BLOCKED SHOTS: DETROIT - A MCDYESS, R WALLACE. HOUSTON - Y MING 4,
R ALSTON 2, C HAYES 2.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DETROIT 4-15 (.267), C BILLUPS 0-4, R HAMILTON 2-
2, A MCDYESS 0-1, R WALLACE 2-6, J HAYES 0-1, A AFFLALO 0-1. HOUSTON 6-
15 (.400), R ALSTON 2-6, T MCGRADY 3-6, L HEAD 1-3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DETROIT - R WALLACE. HOUSTON - Y MING, B WELLS.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BILL SPOONER, DICK BAVETTA, LEROY RICHARDSON.
A - 17,453. T - 2:29.</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">DETROIT (77)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
C Billups 36:34 6-17 3-5 1-3 7 0 15
R Hamilton 39:06 6-15 0-0 0-3 3 1 14
A McDyess 31:07 5-12 2-2 2-8 0 4 12
T Prince 35:43 2-5 0-0 2-4 1 1 4
R Wallace 32:41 7-17 5-5 1-8 2 6 21
J Maxiell 32:11 3-7 3-6 5-13 0 1 9
R Murray 11:26 1-5 0-4 0-1 1 2 2
J Hayes 12:18 0-4 0-0 0-2 0 2 0
A Afflalo 8:54 0-1 0-0 1-2 1 1 0
L Hunter DNP - COACH'S DECISION
N Mohammed DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A Johnson DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 30-83 13-22 12-44 15 18 77
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.361, FT-.591. 3-Point Goals:
4-15, .267 (C Billups 0-4, R Hamilton 2-2, A
McDyess 0-1, R Wallace 2-6, J Hayes 0-1, A
Afflalo 0-1). Team Rebounds: 11. Blocked
Shots:2 (A McDyess, R Wallace). Turnovers:9
(C Billups 2, R Murray 2, A McDyess, R
Hamilton, A Afflalo, J Maxiell, R Wallace).
Steals: 4 (C Billups 2, A McDyess, T Prince).


HOUSTON (80)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Alston 35:10 4-8 0-0 0-3 6 2 10
T McGrady 41:33 13-25 0-5 0-3 6 1 29
C Hayes 41:27 2-7 0-0 5-11 4 1 4
S Battier 36:05 1-3 0-0 2-9 4 1 2
Y Ming 43:49 9-21 3-6 2-13 3 2 21
L Head 19:18 2-4 1-2 0-5 0 2 6
B Wells 11:55 3-5 2-9 1-3 1 3 8
L Scola 10:43 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 3 0
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Francis DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M James DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K Snyder DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 34-74 6-22 10-47 25 15 80
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.459, FT-.273. 3-Point Goals:
6-15, .400 (R Alston 2-6, T McGrady 3-6, L
Head 1-3). Team Rebounds: 16. Blocked Shots:8
(Y Ming 4, R Alston 2, C Hayes 2).
Turnovers:12 (T McGrady 3, S Battier 2, C
Hayes 2, L Head 2, R Alston, L Scola, Y
Ming). Steals: 6 (T McGrady 2, C Hayes 2, R
Alston, Y Ming).

-------------------------------------------
DETROIT 16 17 22 22 - 77
HOUSTON 18 20 19 23 - 80
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Detroit - 1 (R Wallace, 8:49
4th). Houston - 2 (Y Ming, 2:39 1st; B Wells,
8:49 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 17,453. T: 2:29.
Officials: Bill Spooner, Dick Bavetta, Leroy
Richardson.</div>

 

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Tracy McGrady scored 29 points and YaoMing added 21 and 13 rebounds as the Houston Rockets held on foran 80-77 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

It was Houston's sixth win in 11 outings despite connecting onjust 27 percent (6-of-22) from the free-throw line.

The Rockets squandered a 14-point second-half lead because oftheir inability to make free throws, missing 11 in a row in onestretch.


That fact didn't escape Detroit coach Flip Saunders.

"We did one good thing - we defended very well at the free-throwline," Saunders said. "Probably as good as anyone has defendedin the game."


McGrady didn't have an answer for the Rockets' free-throw woes.

"Yao missed his first two and I was 0-for-5," McGrady said. "Wedid a poor job. For us to come out with this win, it's justreally unexplainable."


However, Yao sank two free throws and made a hook over RasheedWallace to give the Rockets a 79-71 advantage with 1:58 left inthe fourth quarter.


However, Detroit rallied within two as Wallace knocked down adeep 3-pointer from the top of the key and Richard Hamiltonadded another just seconds later to slice the deficit to 79-77at the 1:22 mark.


After both teams went empty on consecutive possessions, Detroithad two good attempts on possible game-winning 3-pointers, butWallace misfired from the right wing and Chauncey Billups cameup short with two seconds left.


"It felt good (the shot)," said Billups, who had 15 points andseven assists. "But that's an indication of the way the nightwent."


"We got some good looks at the end," Detroit forward AntonioMcDyess said. "I thought Chauncey was going to make his.(Wallace and Billups) are two good shooters."


Yao split a pair from the line, giving the Pistons one last tryto pull it out, but Rafer Alston stripped McDyess on anattempted shot from the arc as the horn sounded.


"(Alston) grazed my arm," McDyess said. "You can call or itnot, I guess."


"We were coming off two bad losses on the East Coast and cominghome for three games that are against the top teams in the NBA,"McGrady said. "We knew this team played (Tuesday), and wewanted to jump on them right away."


Alston finished with 10 points and six assists in this one aftermissing the previous two contests because of a strained groin.

Wallace poured in 21 points to lead three other starters indouble figures as Detroit watched its four-game road winningstreak come to an end.


"We weren't really tired, but we didn't get it done at the end,"Wallace said. "We are going to see those chumps again. We aregoing to bust their (butt) the next time we see them. We'regoing to see them again, and they better be ready."

Late in the fourth, McDyess left for a few minutes due to asprained ankle before returning after getting it taped.

"It's real tender and I hope it doesn't swell," McDyess said."It's just a sprained ankle, and I've had quite a few of thosein my career. We'll have to see how it feels (Thursday)."