<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> January 24, 2007 - 9:00 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on ESPN</span></div><span style="color:#FF0000">Houston Rockets</span> <span style="color:#000000">(25-16)</span><span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Rafer Alston</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Tracy McGrady</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Shane Battier</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Juwan Howard</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Dikembe Mutombo</span><span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Luther Head, Bonzi Wells, Chuck Hayes, John Lucas III</span><span style="color:#000000">San Antonio Spurs</span> <span style="color:#999999">(30-13)</span><span style="color:#999999">PG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span> <span style="color:#999999">SG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Manu Ginobili</span> <span style="color:#999999">SF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Bruce Bowen</span> <span style="color:#999999">PF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span> <span style="color:#999999">C</span> <span style="color:#000000">Fabricio Oberto</span><span style="color:#999999">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Robert Horry, Michael Finley, Brent Barry, Beno Udrih, Francisco Elson</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#000000">HOU:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Yao Ming will not play (fractured right tibia)</span><span style="color:#000000">HOU:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Bonzi Wells will not play (sore lower back)</span><span style="color:#999999">SA:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Matt Bonner will not play (torn MCL)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#FF0000">Tracy McGrady</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 22.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 6.4 apg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Shane Battier</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 10.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.5 apg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Dikembe Mutombo</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 3.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.1 bpg</span><span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 5.7 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 1.8 bpg</span><span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 19.8 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.2 bpg</span><span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 19.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.6 apg</span><span style="color:#000000">Manu Ginobili</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 16.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.8 spg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#000000">HOU:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Steve Novak</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">1.4 ppg, 0.8 rpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">HOU:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Vassilis Spanoulis</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">2.6 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 1.1 apg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Houston's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Rafer Alston</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 13.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.5 spg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Coming off a 5-18 shooting night, which seems to happen for Skip once a week, he needs to shoot the ball better. He has been shooting the ball at a horrible rate all season long, and it's ridiculous. He needs to shoot the ball well and play under control. Oh yeah, and try to keep up with Tony Parker on the other end of the floor.</span><span style="color:#000000">San Antonio's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000000">Bruce Bowen</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 7.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.4</span><span style="color:#000000">He has to guard T-Mac. You know the drill.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#FF0000">Tracy McGrady</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#000000">Bruce Bowen</span></div><span style="color:#000000">One of the best players in the league vs. the best defender in the league. It doesn't get that much better, when it comes down to 1-on-1 mathcups.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesHaving no Yao is really going to hurt the Rockets down low when a guy like Tim Duncan is down there, so Mutombo is going to have to step up too. CelticBalla's PredictionI'm going with San Antonio. I see a big offensive night from Tim Duncan and I see a good game, but I say San Antonio wins by 7.
T-Mac was amazing. 37/8/3 on 14-24 shooting incluidng 24pts in 2nd half. he had quite a few 3pt plays that were incredible, including the shot that was probably the game winning shot over Bowen.Now Rockets got a very easy schedule, and will coast into All Star break, just right around when Yao returns. Times are good in Houston!
The Spurs remind me of a couple years ago with the Mavs when they were actually stronger on the road than at home. That's not good for them.
just turned the local sport recap on tv, saw the win. good win for the rockets. dey didnt look 2 good early on
Bowen certainly does this year. He's starting to really show his age. He couldn't keep up with T-Mac going around screens or off the drive. Quite a few people have lit him up this year, and most of it has to do with Bowen's speed and overall athleticism deteriorating.Looks like the SA dynasty is coming to the last 2-3 years of its run.
