GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON (11-9) at TORONTO (10-10)

NBA: HOUSTON (11-9) at TORONTO (10-10)

<h3>Rockets look to exploit shorthanded Raptors</h3>

<div class="pre">Houston (11-9) at Toronto (10-10) 12:30 pm EST</div>

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Yao Ming tends to be a matchup nightmare forevery opponent. He could even be a bigger factor against a teamwhich could be shorthanded.


The Houston Rockets travel to the Air Canada Centre on Sunday tomeet the Toronto Raptors, who may be without Chris Bosh andAndrea Bargnani.


At 7-6, Yao, who is averaging 22.4 points and 10.3 rebounds pergame this season, is a handful for any opponent when they have afull complement of post players. His presence - along withex-Raptor forward Tracy McGrady, who is averaging 25.3 points -has the Rockets playing some of their best basketball of late.

The duo combined for 49 points in Houston's 96-89 win at NewJersey on Friday - the team's fifth win in its last seven games.

The Raptors figure to have their hands full in keeping Yao andMcGrady contained, especially if they are without a pair of 6-10forwards in two-time All-Star Bosh, who has missed the lastfive games with a strained groin and 2006 No. 1 overall draftpick Bargnani, who has sat out the past three games with ahyperextended left knee.


Both players were sidelined on Friday when the Raptors wererouted, 112-84, by the Boston Celtics.


Toronto has lost three of its last four games.

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON VS TORONTO - INACTIVES

HOUSTON TORONTO

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
R ALSTON GROIN PULL D MARTIN COACH'S DECISION
S NOVAK COACH'S DECISION A BARGNANI hyperextended left k
A BROOKS COACH'S DECISION</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

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


HOUSTON TORONTO

F Shane Battier F Jamario Moon
F Chuck Hayes F Chris Bosh
C Yao Ming C Rasho Nesterovic
G Tracy McGrady G T.J. Ford
G Steve Francis G Anthony Parker

OFFICIALS: Bennett Salvatore
Leon Wood
Mark Lindsey</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 9
TORONTO 2 8:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 16
TORONTO 6 5:52 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 17
TORONTO 12 2:19 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 23
TORONTO 16 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 23 23
TORONTO 16 16 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

HOU - SHANE BATTIER 6, TRACY MCGRADY 5, STEVE
FRANCIS 4
TOR - RASHO NESTEROVIC 4, CHRIS BOSH 2,
ANTHONY PARKER 2</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 30
TORONTO 20 8:49 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">CORRECTION

NBA HOUSTON 30
TORONTO 20 8:49 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 34
TORONTO 22 5:57 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 41
TORONTO 32 3:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 45
TORONTO 34 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 22 23 45
TORONTO 16 18 34 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 14, YAO MING 7, SHANE
BATTIER 6
TOR - JASON KAPONO 8, RASHO NESTEROVIC 6,
CHRIS BOSH 5</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 49
TORONTO 41 8:59 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 52
TORONTO 50 5:51 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 52
TORONTO 54 3:05 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 56
TORONTO 62 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 22 23 11 56
TORONTO 16 18 28 62 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 21, YAO MING 9, SHANE
BATTIER 6
TOR - CHRIS BOSH 12, ANTHONY PARKER 11, RASHO
NESTEROVIC 9</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 65
TORONTO 71 8:59 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>