GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON (10-9) at NEW JERSEY (9-10)

Re: NBA: HOUSTON (10-9) at NEW JERSEY (9-10)

At least the Devils won. Nine straight, baby!</p>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (96) AT NEW JERSEY (89)

HOUSTON

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

R ALSTON G 31:25 5-11 3-4 0 1 1 2 0 2 2 15
T MCGRADY G 41:43 9-16 3-5 0 1 1 6 2 1 3 24
C HAYES F 15:42 1-2 0-0 1 3 4 0 1 0 0 2
S BATTIER F 36:06 4-6 2-2 1 4 5 6 5 3 0 12
Y MING C 39:18 9-18 7-7 1 10 11 5 4 0 3 25
B WELLS 31:24 2-9 1-2 0 8 8 0 1 4 1 5
S FRANCIS 17:36 1-5 3-4 1 2 3 2 2 0 1 5
L SCOLA 14:53 2-4 0-0 2 1 3 1 0 0 0 4
M JAMES 11:53 2-4 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 4

TOTALS 240:00 35-75 19-24 7 31 38 23 15 10 10 96
(.467) (.792) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 12 (0 PTS)

NEW JERSEY

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

J KIDD G 36:39 4-12 0-0 0 7 7 7 3 0 1 10
V CARTER G 37:45 12-28 5-6 4 3 7 2 1 1 5 32
M ALLEN F 17:39 1-2 0-0 1 3 4 1 2 0 1 2
R JEFFERSON F 41:13 11-20 6-6 1 3 4 2 3 2 3 29
J COLLINS C 20:54 1-2 0-0 3 5 8 0 3 2 1 2
B NACHBAR 28:43 4-10 1-2 2 2 4 2 2 1 2 10
J MAGLOIRE 19:46 0-4 0-0 2 4 6 0 2 0 2 0
A WRIGHT 14:28 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 0
M WILLIAMS 11:33 1-2 0-0 1 2 3 0 2 0 1 2
E GILL 11:20 1-2 0-0 0 2 2 4 0 0 0 2

TOTALS 240:00 35-83 12-14 14 32 46 19 20 6 17 89
(.422) (.857) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 17 (0 PTS)

HOUSTON 28 20 24 24 - 96
NEW JERSEY 18 15 27 29 - 89

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - Y MING 3, L SCOLA. NEW JERSEY - M WILLIAMS 2,
V CARTER, M ALLEN.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 7-14 (.500), R ALSTON 2-6, T MCGRADY 3-
4, S BATTIER 2-3, S FRANCIS 0-1. NEW JERSEY 7-13 (.538), J KIDD 2-
4, V CARTER 3-5, R JEFFERSON 1-1, B NACHBAR 1-3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NEW JERSEY - COACH FRANK, V CARTER.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: MARK WUNDERLICH, PAT FRAHER, STEVE JAVIE.
A - 15,421. T - 2:08.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (96)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Alston 31:25 5-11 3-4 0-1 2 0 15
T McGrady 41:43 9-16 3-5 0-1 6 2 24
C Hayes 15:42 1-2 0-0 1-4 0 1 2
S Battier 36:06 4-6 2-2 1-5 6 5 12
Y Ming 39:18 9-18 7-7 1-11 5 4 25
B Wells 31:24 2-9 1-2 0-8 0 1 5
S Francis 17:36 1-5 3-4 1-3 2 2 5
L Scola 14:53 2-4 0-0 2-3 1 0 4
M James 11:53 2-4 0-0 1-2 1 0 4

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 35-75 19-24 7-38 23 15 96
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.467, FT-.792. 3-Point Goals:
7-14, .500 (R Alston 2-6, T McGrady 3-4, S
Battier 2-3, S Francis 0-1). Team Rebounds:
6. Blocked Shots:4 (Y Ming 3, L Scola).
Turnovers:10 (T McGrady 3, Y Ming 3, R Alston
2, B Wells, S Francis). Steals: 10 (B Wells
4, S Battier 3, R Alston 2, T McGrady).


NEW JERSEY (89)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
J Kidd 36:39 4-12 0-0 0-7 7 3 10
V Carter 37:45 12-28 5-6 4-7 2 1 32
M Allen 17:39 1-2 0-0 1-4 1 2 2
R Jefferson 41:13 11-20 6-6 1-4 2 3 29
J Collins 20:54 1-2 0-0 3-8 0 3 2
B Nachbar 28:43 4-10 1-2 2-4 2 2 10
J Magloire 19:46 0-4 0-0 2-6 0 2 0
A Wright 14:28 0-1 0-0 0-1 1 2 0
M Williams 11:33 1-2 0-0 1-3 0 2 2
E Gill 11:20 1-2 0-0 0-2 4 0 2

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 35-83 12-14 14-46 19 20 89
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.422, FT-.857. 3-Point Goals:
7-13, .538 (J Kidd 2-4, V Carter 3-5, R
Jefferson 1-1, B Nachbar 1-3). Team Rebounds:
5. Blocked Shots:4 (M Williams 2, V Carter, M
Allen). Turnovers:17 (V Carter 5, R Jefferson
3, J Magloire 2, B Nachbar 2, J Kidd, M
Williams, J Collins, M Allen, A Wright).
Steals: 6 (R Jefferson 2, J Collins 2, V
Carter, B Nachbar).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 28 20 24 24 - 96
NEW JERSEY 18 15 27 29 - 89
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: New Jersey - 2 (COACH Frank,
1:14 2nd; V Carter, 9:03 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 15,421. T: 2:08.
Officials: Mark Wunderlich, Pat Fraher, Steve
Javie.</div>

 

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Jason Kidd's return tothe lineup on Friday could not ignite the New Jersey Nets'struggling offense.


Yao Ming had 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Houston Rocketsposted a 96-89 victory over the Nets at the Izod Center.

Tracy McGrady scored 19 of his 24 points in the first half forthe Rockets, who opened up a 15-point halftime lead and led byat least seven points over the final three quarters of thecontest.


Kidd's return after a one-game absence could not help the NewJersey attack, which came into the game with the third-worstscoring offense in the league at 90.7 points per contest.

Kidd, who missed Wednesday's loss to the New York Knicks due toa migraine headache, had just 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting,with seven rebounds and seven assists as the Nets have lostseven of its last eight home games.


Reports had surfaced that Kidd was using his "illness" as a ployto demand a trade or contract extension, which he then denied.The eight-time All-Star had just two points, two rebounds andthree assists at the half, as Houston won for the fifth straighttime in New Jersey.


McGrady scored 13 points in the opening period as the Rocketsheld a 28-18 lead after the first.


Houston ended the second quarter on a 9-2 run over the final5:17 to take its largest lead of the first half, 48-33, at thebreak.


New Jersey shot just 35 percent (15-of-43) in the opening half,while Houston connected on 19-of-35 (54 percent) attempts fromthe field over that span.


The Nets opened the second half on an 8-0 run as they closedwithin seven points, but the Rockets answered with a 13-4 run totake a 61-45 lead with 7:03 left in the third quarter.

Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson combined to score 26 of theNets' 27 third-quarter points, but New Jersey still trailed, 72-60,entering the fourth.


Carter scored a season-high 32 points and Jefferson added 29 forthe Nets.

 

NBA: HOUSTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
HOUSTON 96
NEW JERSEY 89 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (96) AT NEW JERSEY (89)

HOUSTON

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

R ALSTON G 31:25 5-11 3-4 0 1 1 2 0 2 2 15
T MCGRADY G 41:43 9-16 3-5 0 1 1 6 2 1 3 24
C HAYES F 15:42 1-2 0-0 1 3 4 0 1 0 0 2
S BATTIER F 36:06 4-6 2-2 1 4 5 6 5 3 0 12
Y MING C 39:18 9-18 7-7 1 10 11 5 4 0 3 25
B WELLS 31:24 2-9 1-2 0 8 8 0 1 4 1 5
S FRANCIS 17:36 1-5 3-4 1 2 3 2 2 0 1 5
L SCOLA 14:53 2-4 0-0 2 1 3 1 0 0 0 4
M JAMES 11:53 2-4 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 4
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K SNYDER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
C LANDRY DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 35-75 19-24 7 31 38 23 15 10 10 96
(.467) (.792) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 12 (5 PTS)

NEW JERSEY

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

J KIDD G 36:39 4-12 0-0 0 7 7 7 3 0 1 10
V CARTER G 37:45 12-28 5-6 4 3 7 2 1 1 5 32
M ALLEN F 17:39 1-2 0-0 1 3 4 1 2 0 1 2
R JEFFERSON F 41:13 11-20 6-6 1 3 4 2 3 2 3 29
J COLLINS C 20:54 1-2 0-0 3 5 8 0 3 2 1 2
B NACHBAR 28:43 4-10 1-2 2 2 4 2 2 1 2 10
J MAGLOIRE 19:46 0-4 0-0 2 4 6 0 2 0 2 0
A WRIGHT 14:28 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 0
M WILLIAMS 11:33 1-2 0-0 1 2 3 0 2 0 1 2
E GILL 11:20 1-2 0-0 0 2 2 4 0 0 0 2
D ARMSTRONG DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J BOONE DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 35-83 12-14 14 32 46 19 20 6 17 89
(.422) (.857) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 17 (20 PTS)

HOUSTON 28 20 24 24 - 96
NEW JERSEY 18 15 27 29 - 89

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - Y MING 3, L SCOLA. NEW JERSEY - M WILLIAMS 2,
V CARTER, M ALLEN.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 7-14 (.500), R ALSTON 2-6, T MCGRADY 3-
4, S BATTIER 2-3, S FRANCIS 0-1. NEW JERSEY 7-13 (.538), J KIDD 2-
4, V CARTER 3-5, R JEFFERSON 1-1, B NACHBAR 1-3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NEW JERSEY - COACH FRANK, V CARTER.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: MARK WUNDERLICH, PAT FRAHER, STEVE JAVIE.
A - 15,421. T - 2:09.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (96)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Alston 31:25 5-11 3-4 0-1 2 0 15
T McGrady 41:43 9-16 3-5 0-1 6 2 24
C Hayes 15:42 1-2 0-0 1-4 0 1 2
S Battier 36:06 4-6 2-2 1-5 6 5 12
Y Ming 39:18 9-18 7-7 1-11 5 4 25
B Wells 31:24 2-9 1-2 0-8 0 1 5
S Francis 17:36 1-5 3-4 1-3 2 2 5
L Scola 14:53 2-4 0-0 2-3 1 0 4
M James 11:53 2-4 0-0 1-2 1 0 4
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K Snyder DNP - COACH'S DECISION
C Landry DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 35-75 19-24 7-38 23 15 96
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.467, FT-.792. 3-Point Goals:
7-14, .500 (R Alston 2-6, T McGrady 3-4, S
Battier 2-3, S Francis 0-1). Team Rebounds:
6. Blocked Shots:4 (Y Ming 3, L Scola).
Turnovers:10 (T McGrady 3, Y Ming 3, R Alston
2, B Wells, S Francis). Steals: 10 (B Wells
4, S Battier 3, R Alston 2, T McGrady).


NEW JERSEY (89)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
J Kidd 36:39 4-12 0-0 0-7 7 3 10
V Carter 37:45 12-28 5-6 4-7 2 1 32
M Allen 17:39 1-2 0-0 1-4 1 2 2
R Jefferson 41:13 11-20 6-6 1-4 2 3 29
J Collins 20:54 1-2 0-0 3-8 0 3 2
B Nachbar 28:43 4-10 1-2 2-4 2 2 10
J Magloire 19:46 0-4 0-0 2-6 0 2 0
A Wright 14:28 0-1 0-0 0-1 1 2 0
M Williams 11:33 1-2 0-0 1-3 0 2 2
E Gill 11:20 1-2 0-0 0-2 4 0 2
D Armstrong DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J Boone DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 35-83 12-14 14-46 19 20 89
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.422, FT-.857. 3-Point Goals:
7-13, .538 (J Kidd 2-4, V Carter 3-5, R
Jefferson 1-1, B Nachbar 1-3). Team Rebounds:
5. Blocked Shots:4 (M Williams 2, V Carter, M
Allen). Turnovers:17 (V Carter 5, R Jefferson
3, J Magloire 2, B Nachbar 2, J Kidd, M
Williams, J Collins, M Allen, A Wright).
Steals: 6 (R Jefferson 2, J Collins 2, V
Carter, B Nachbar).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 28 20 24 24 - 96
NEW JERSEY 18 15 27 29 - 89
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: New Jersey - 2 (COACH Frank,
1:14 2nd; V Carter, 9:03 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 15,421. T: 2:09.
Officials: Mark Wunderlich, Pat Fraher, Steve
Javie.</div>

 

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Jason Kidd's return tothe lineup on Friday could not ignite the New Jersey Nets'struggling offense.


Yao Ming had 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Houston Rocketsled from start to finish en route to a 96-89 victory over theNets at the Izod Center.


Tracy McGrady scored 19 of his 24 points in the first half forthe Rockets, who opened up a 15-point halftime lead and led byat least seven points over the final three quarters of thecontest.


"We played really well in the first half," Houston coach RickAdelman said. "They made a run at the start of the second half,and we responded. We just kind of kept them at bay. Afterthey made the first three shots of the second half, we respondedand got it back to double figures."


Kidd's return after a one-game absence could not help the NewJersey attack, which came into the game with the third-worstscoring offense in the league at 90.7 points per contest.

Kidd, who missed Wednesday's loss to the New York Knicks due toa migraine headache, had just 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting,with seven rebounds and seven assists as the Nets have lostseven of its last eight home games.


Reports had surfaced that Kidd was using his "illness" as a ployto demand a trade or contract extension, which he then denied.The eight-time All-Star had just two points, two rebounds andthree assists at the half, as Houston won for the fifth straighttime in New Jersey.


"I feel better," Kidd said. "I think getting back out there wasgood. I tried everything I could tonight, but we ran intoMcGrady, who was on fire. Our guys kept playing hard, but wecouldn't get over the hump."


McGrady scored 13 points in the opening period as the Rocketsheld a 28-18 lead after the first.


"Any time a team is struggling, you don't want to let them getcaught up in the game and get confident," McGrady said. "JasonKidd controls everything, and we didn't want that to happen, sowe went at him right away. Our defense was pretty solidtonight, especially in the first half."


Houston ended the second quarter on a 9-2 run over the final5:17 to take its largest lead of the first half, 48-33, at thebreak.


New Jersey shot just 35 percent (15-of-43) in the opening half,while Houston connected on 19-of-35 (54 percent) attempts fromthe field over that span.


"I won't question the effort," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said."In the first half, we didn't do a great job of third and fourthdefender help. I thought our guys were active. In the secondhalf, we had a good attack on both ends.


"When you play good teams, you have to play at a higher level."

The Nets opened the second half on an 8-0 run as they closedwithin seven points, but the Rockets answered with a 13-4 run totake a 61-45 lead with 7:03 left in the third quarter.

Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson combined to score 26 of theNets' 27 third-quarter points, but New Jersey still trailed,72-60, entering the fourth.


The Nets trailed by nine midway through the fourth quarter, butHouston went on a 9-3 spurt to push its advantage up to 86-71with 3:14 to play.


Carter scored a season-high 32 points and Jefferson added 29 forthe Nets.


"We already know our offense is one of the worst in the league,"Jefferson said. "It isn't necessarily the plays that we arerunning, but just our shooting percentages. I don't know why.Hopefully, this will be something we can figure out and move onfrom quickly.


"Maybe then we could go on a run, win some games in a row andstart feeling good about ourselves."