GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON (8-7) at PHOENIX (11-3)

NBA: HOUSTON at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 96
PHOENIX 94 0:45 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 100
PHOENIX 94 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 27 29 21 23 100
PHOENIX 28 24 21 21 94 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: HOU - YAO MING 31, TRACY MCGRADY 18, RAFER
ALSTON 15
PHO - STEVE NASH 29, AMARE STOUDEMIRE 25,
SHAWN MARION 18</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
HOUSTON 100
PHOENIX 94 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (100) AT PHOENIX (94)

HOUSTON

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

R ALSTON G 29:53 6-11 0-0 0 4 4 4 0 2 3 15
T MCGRADY G 35:24 7-19 3-8 0 8 8 6 2 1 3 18
C HAYES F 22:44 3-4 0-0 2 4 6 1 2 1 0 6
S BATTIER F 32:45 2-6 0-0 0 3 3 3 3 0 0 6
Y MING C 40:17 12-19 7-7 3 10 13 1 4 0 6 31
S FRANCIS 27:13 4-8 0-0 1 2 3 7 3 2 1 9
L SCOLA 21:58 4-5 0-0 0 7 7 0 1 0 2 8
M JAMES 17:10 2-4 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4
B WELLS 12:36 1-3 0-0 0 3 3 0 0 0 2 3
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K SNYDER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
L HEAD DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 41-79 10-15 6 41 47 23 15 6 17 100
(.519) (.667) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 17 (0 PTS)

PHOENIX

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

S NASH G 39:30 11-20 4-4 1 1 2 6 0 0 3 29
R BELL G 22:43 3-8 0-0 0 3 3 2 3 0 0 7
S MARION F 41:02 6-13 3-6 1 8 9 4 2 5 1 18
G HILL F 29:00 2-8 3-4 0 2 2 3 0 1 1 7
A STOUDEMIRE C 38:37 8-18 9-9 4 5 9 0 5 1 2 25
L BARBOSA 34:13 2-11 0-0 0 4 4 3 2 1 3 4
B SKINNER 17:36 1-1 0-0 0 2 2 0 3 1 0 2
B DIAW 17:19 1-3 0-0 0 3 3 0 0 0 2 2

TOTALS 240:00 34-82 19-23 6 28 34 18 15 9 12 94
(.415) (.826) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 12 (0 PTS)

HOUSTON 27 29 21 23 - 100
PHOENIX 28 24 21 21 - 94

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - S FRANCIS 2, S BATTIER 2, Y MING 2, T MCGRADY,
C HAYES. PHOENIX - S MARION 4, B DIAW, L BARBOSA.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 8-16 (.500), R ALSTON 3-5, T MCGRADY 1-
2, S BATTIER 2-4, S FRANCIS 1-3, M JAMES 0-1, B WELLS 1-1. PHOENIX 7-
17 (.412), S NASH 3-7, R BELL 1-3, S MARION 3-4, L BARBOSA 0-3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: HOUSTON - DEFENSIVE THREE 2. PHOENIX - R BELL.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: ED MALLOY, MARK WUNDERLICH, TONY BROTHERS.
A - 18,422. T - 2:03.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (100)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Alston 29:53 6-11 0-0 0-4 4 0 15
T McGrady 35:24 7-19 3-8 0-8 6 2 18
C Hayes 22:44 3-4 0-0 2-6 1 2 6
S Battier 32:45 2-6 0-0 0-3 3 3 6
Y Ming 40:17 12-19 7-7 3-13 1 4 31
S Francis 27:13 4-8 0-0 1-3 7 3 9
L Scola 21:58 4-5 0-0 0-7 0 1 8
M James 17:10 2-4 0-0 0-0 1 0 4
B Wells 12:36 1-3 0-0 0-3 0 0 3
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K Snyder DNP - COACH'S DECISION
L Head DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 41-79 10-15 6-47 23 15 100
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.519, FT-.667. 3-Point Goals:
8-16, .500 (R Alston 3-5, T McGrady 1-2, S
Battier 2-4, S Francis 1-3, M James 0-1, B
Wells 1-1). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:8
(S Francis 2, S Battier 2, Y Ming 2, T
McGrady, C Hayes). Turnovers:17 (Y Ming 6, T
McGrady 3, R Alston 3, B Wells 2, L Scola 2,
S Francis). Steals: 6 (S Francis 2, R Alston
2, T McGrady, C Hayes).


PHOENIX (94)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Nash 39:30 11-20 4-4 1-2 6 0 29
R Bell 22:43 3-8 0-0 0-3 2 3 7
S Marion 41:02 6-13 3-6 1-9 4 2 18
G Hill 29:00 2-8 3-4 0-2 3 0 7
A Stoudemire 38:37 8-18 9-9 4-9 0 5 25
L Barbosa 34:13 2-11 0-0 0-4 3 2 4
B Skinner 17:36 1-1 0-0 0-2 0 3 2
B Diaw 17:19 1-3 0-0 0-3 0 0 2

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 34-82 19-23 6-34 18 15 94
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.415, FT-.826. 3-Point Goals:
7-17, .412 (S Nash 3-7, R Bell 1-3, S Marion
3-4, L Barbosa 0-3). Team Rebounds: 6.
Blocked Shots:6 (S Marion 4, B Diaw, L
Barbosa). Turnovers:12 (S Nash 3, L Barbosa
3, B Diaw 2, A Stoudemire 2, G Hill, S
Marion). Steals: 9 (S Marion 5, G Hill, A
Stoudemire, L Barbosa, B Skinner).

--------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 27 29 21 23 - 100
PHOENIX 28 24 21 21 - 94
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Houston - 2 (Defensive
Three, 4:56 1st; Delay Of Game, 6:50 4th).
Phoenix - 1 (R Bell, 2:09 1st).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,422. T: 2:03.
Officials: Ed Malloy, Mark Wunderlich, Tony
Brothers.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (100) AT PHOENIX (94)

HOUSTON

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

R ALSTON G 29:53 6-11 0-0 0 4 4 4 0 2 3 15
T MCGRADY G 35:24 7-19 3-8 0 8 8 6 2 1 3 18
C HAYES F 22:44 3-4 0-0 2 4 6 1 2 1 0 6
S BATTIER F 32:45 2-6 0-0 0 3 3 3 3 0 0 6
Y MING C 40:17 12-19 7-7 3 10 13 1 4 0 6 31
S FRANCIS 27:13 4-8 0-0 1 2 3 7 3 2 1 9
L SCOLA 21:58 4-5 0-0 0 7 7 0 1 0 2 8
M JAMES 17:10 2-4 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4
B WELLS 12:36 1-3 0-0 0 3 3 0 0 0 2 3
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K SNYDER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
L HEAD DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 41-79 10-15 6 41 47 23 15 6 17 100
(.519) (.667) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 17 (18 PTS)

PHOENIX

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

S NASH G 39:30 11-20 4-4 1 1 2 6 0 0 3 29
R BELL G 22:43 3-8 0-0 0 3 3 2 3 0 0 7
S MARION F 41:02 6-13 3-6 1 8 9 4 2 5 1 18
G HILL F 29:00 2-8 3-4 0 2 2 3 0 1 1 7
A STOUDEMIRE C 38:37 8-18 9-9 4 5 9 0 5 1 2 25
L BARBOSA 34:13 2-11 0-0 0 4 4 3 2 1 3 4
B SKINNER 17:36 1-1 0-0 0 2 2 0 3 1 0 2
B DIAW 17:19 1-3 0-0 0 3 3 0 0 0 2 2
E PIATKOWSKI DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M BANKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D STRAWBERRY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S MARKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 34-82 19-23 6 28 34 18 15 9 12 94
(.415) (.826) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 12 (18 PTS)

HOUSTON 27 29 21 23 - 100
PHOENIX 28 24 21 21 - 94

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - S FRANCIS 2, S BATTIER 2, Y MING 2, T MCGRADY,
C HAYES. PHOENIX - S MARION 4, B DIAW, L BARBOSA.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 8-16 (.500), R ALSTON 3-5, T MCGRADY 1-
2, S BATTIER 2-4, S FRANCIS 1-3, M JAMES 0-1, B WELLS 1-1. PHOENIX 7-
17 (.412), S NASH 3-7, R BELL 1-3, S MARION 3-4, L BARBOSA 0-3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: HOUSTON - DEFENSIVE THREE 2. PHOENIX - R BELL.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: ED MALLOY, MARK WUNDERLICH, TONY BROTHERS.
A - 18,422. T - 2:04.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (100)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Alston 29:53 6-11 0-0 0-4 4 0 15
T McGrady 35:24 7-19 3-8 0-8 6 2 18
C Hayes 22:44 3-4 0-0 2-6 1 2 6
S Battier 32:45 2-6 0-0 0-3 3 3 6
Y Ming 40:17 12-19 7-7 3-13 1 4 31
S Francis 27:13 4-8 0-0 1-3 7 3 9
L Scola 21:58 4-5 0-0 0-7 0 1 8
M James 17:10 2-4 0-0 0-0 1 0 4
B Wells 12:36 1-3 0-0 0-3 0 0 3
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K Snyder DNP - COACH'S DECISION
L Head DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 41-79 10-15 6-47 23 15 100
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.519, FT-.667. 3-Point Goals:
8-16, .500 (R Alston 3-5, T McGrady 1-2, S
Battier 2-4, S Francis 1-3, M James 0-1, B
Wells 1-1). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:8
(S Francis 2, S Battier 2, Y Ming 2, T
McGrady, C Hayes). Turnovers:17 (Y Ming 6, T
McGrady 3, R Alston 3, B Wells 2, L Scola 2,
S Francis). Steals: 6 (S Francis 2, R Alston
2, T McGrady, C Hayes).


PHOENIX (94)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Nash 39:30 11-20 4-4 1-2 6 0 29
R Bell 22:43 3-8 0-0 0-3 2 3 7
S Marion 41:02 6-13 3-6 1-9 4 2 18
G Hill 29:00 2-8 3-4 0-2 3 0 7
A Stoudemire 38:37 8-18 9-9 4-9 0 5 25
L Barbosa 34:13 2-11 0-0 0-4 3 2 4
B Skinner 17:36 1-1 0-0 0-2 0 3 2
B Diaw 17:19 1-3 0-0 0-3 0 0 2
E Piatkowski DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M Banks DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D Strawberry DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Marks DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 34-82 19-23 6-34 18 15 94
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.415, FT-.826. 3-Point Goals:
7-17, .412 (S Nash 3-7, R Bell 1-3, S Marion
3-4, L Barbosa 0-3). Team Rebounds: 6.
Blocked Shots:6 (S Marion 4, B Diaw, L
Barbosa). Turnovers:12 (S Nash 3, L Barbosa
3, B Diaw 2, A Stoudemire 2, G Hill, S
Marion). Steals: 9 (S Marion 5, G Hill, A
Stoudemire, L Barbosa, B Skinner).

--------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 27 29 21 23 - 100
PHOENIX 28 24 21 21 - 94
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Houston - 2 (Defensive
Three, 4:56 1st; Delay Of Game, 6:50 4th).
Phoenix - 1 (R Bell, 2:09 1st).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,422. T: 2:04.
Officials: Ed Malloy, Mark Wunderlich, Tony
Brothers.</div>

 

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- With a little help from "The Franchise,"Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets set the Phoenix Suns.

Yao scored 31 points and pulled down 13 rebounds and SteveFrancis was sharp in a season-high 27 minutes as the Rocketspulled out a 100-94 win over the Suns on Wednesday.

Tracy McGrady, who averaged 35.5 points in his two previousoutings, filled up the box score with 18 points, eight reboundsand six assists for Houston, which has now won three straightafter dropping six in a row.


Yao sparked the Rockets' offense with a 12-of-19 shooting spree,easily getting post position on the Suns' smaller interiordefenders.


Francis, who had appeared in just three of Houston's first 15games, made his presence felt in the second quarter, scoringseven of his nine points on 3-of-4 shooting. "The Franchise"added seven assists and chipped in on the defensive end witha key block and steal late in the fourth quarter.


After Steve Nash nailed a jumper to pull the Suns to within89-87 with 5:54 remaining in the game, Shane Battier nailed a3-pointer and Yao sunk a 16-foot jumper to push the lead back to94-87 with 3:46 to play.


But Phoenix refused to fold, using just 41 seconds to pull backto within 94-92 on Nash's jumper.


After Yao and Nash traded baskets, Francis made a driving layupto give Houston a 98-94 lead with 29 seconds remaining and thenstole the ball from Amare Stoudemire on the Suns' ensuingpossession to seal the win.


In a tightly contested first period where there were 10 leadchanges and eight ties, Stoudemire's three-point play with 2.5seconds left gave Phoenix a 28-27 lead after one.


Stoudemire and Nash combined for 19 points while McGrady and Yaohad 22 of the Rockets' 27 points in that period.


Houston, which entered the contest allowing just 91.9 points pergame - the best in the Western Conference - opened the secondquarter with a 19-7 run to take a 46-35 lead.


The Rockets connected on 8-of-11 shots while forcing the Suns toshoot just 3-of-10 from the field.


Phoenix battled back and cut the gap to four at the half, 56-52.

In the third, the Suns regained the lead at 66-63 at the 6:16mark on two free throws by Stoudemire, but Houston came rightback and scored the next eight points to take the lead for good,71-66, with four minutes left in the quarter.


Houston held the Suns, who have the league's top offense, to aseason-low 41 percent (34-of-82) shooting.


Nash finished with 29 points and Stoudemire added 25 forPhoenix, which has lost two straight after an eight-game winningstreak.

 

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- With a little help from "The Franchise,"Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets set the Phoenix Suns.

Yao scored 31 points and pulled down 13 rebounds and SteveFrancis was sharp in a season-high 27 minutes as the Rocketspulled out a 100-94 win over the Suns on Wednesday.

Tracy McGrady, who averaged 35.5 points in his two previousoutings, filled up the box score with 18 points, eight reboundsand six assists for Houston, which has now won three straightafter dropping six in a row.


Yao sparked the Rockets' offense with a 12-of-19 shooting spree,easily getting post position on the Suns' smaller interiordefenders.


"The way we play against them we end up shooting a high fieldgoal percentage," Yao said. "The last time we played the Sunswe didn't have T-Mac out there so a lot of people woulddouble-team me. With Tracy back they cannot do that. T-Macopens things up and makes it easier inside."


Francis, who had appeared in just three of Houston's first 15games, made his presence felt in the second quarter, scoringseven of his nine points on 3-of-4 shooting. "The Franchise"added seven assists and chipped in on the defensive end with akey block and steal late in the fourth quarter.


"I definitely was tired," Francis said. "That was the longest Iplayed since last season. We needed to be aggressive,especially late, and go to the basket. I was able to get allball. That is what I have done throughout my career is helpteams finish games and tonight was a great one and we did agreat job."


After Steve Nash nailed a jumper to pull the Suns to within89-87 with 5:54 remaining, Shane Battier nailed a 3-pointer andYao sunk a 16-foot jumper to push the lead back to 94-87 with3:46 to play.


Phoenix refused to fold, needing just 41 seconds to pull back towithin 94-92 on Nash's jumper.


After Yao and Nash traded baskets, Francis made a driving layupto give Houston a 98-94 lead with 29 seconds remaining and thenstole the ball from Amare Stoudemire on the Suns' ensuingpossession to seal the win.


"Having (Francis) out there, he is the guy that knows how tocreate and play the game, he knows how to get in the interior ofthe defense," McGrady said. "That was a pivotal bucket, thenhe made a great play defensively. One thing we did tonight thatwe usually don't in this building was keep our poise down thestretch and got some stops."


In a tightly contested first period where there were 10 leadchanges and eight ties, Stoudemire's three-point play with 2.5seconds left gave Phoenix a 28-27 lead after one.


Stoudemire and Nash combined for 19 points while McGrady and Yaohad 22 of the Rockets' 27 points in that period.


Houston, which entered the contest allowing just 91.9 points pergame - the best in the Western Conference - opened the secondquarter with a 19-7 run to take a 46-35 lead.


The Rockets connected on 8-of-11 shots while forcing the Suns toshoot just 3-of-10 from the field.


Phoenix battled back and cut the gap to 56-52 at the half.

In the third, the Suns regained the lead at 66-63 at the 6:16mark on two free throws by Stoudemire, but Houston came rightback and scored the next eight points to take the lead for good,71-66, with four minutes left in the quarter.


"We wanted to control the tempo," Rockets coach Rick Adelmansaid. "I think in the last game they had 31 fast-break points,tonight they had only 10. We are playing better offensively,but in the second half we were terrific defensively."

Houston held the Suns, who have the league's top offense, to aseason-low 41 percent (34-of-82) shooting.


"We just weren't real sharp offensively and missed some shots,"Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "They got 23 points in thefourth quarter and 21 in the third. If we can't score that manythen there are going to be a lot of nights when we are notgoing to win."


Nash finished with 29 points and Stoudemire added 25 forPhoenix, which has lost two straight after an eight-game winningstreak.


"We didn't get into our pace at all," Nash said. "We made someshots, probably didn't get enough shots and didn't push the ballup. We never got to our speed or our tempo and didn't have ourregular spark."