The AP reports: Rafer Alston scored 28 points and Tracy McGrady added 17 as the Houston Rockets beat the Sacramento Kings 108-100, making Adelman the 13th coach to reach the milestone… Shane Battier added 15 points for the Rockets, who won for the second time in five games since the end of their 22-game winning streak last Tuesday. Houston entered Monday’s action in fifth place in the Western Conference, but only one game behind New Orleans and the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 1 spot. Kevin Martin scored 18, and Ron Artest and Francisco Garcia had 17 apiece to lead the Kings, who’ve lost eight of their last nine road games. Sacramento allowed 100 points for the 17th time in 18 games as Houston shot 50 percent from the field (35-of-70).
Category: Houston Rockets Blog
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Around the league
Teams are averaging 99.6 points through games played March 23. Last year to date, teams were averaging 98.7 points. Teams have averaged triple-digit scoring each of the last five weeks. The last time the league had five straight weeks with an average of at least 100 points was the start of the 1995-1996 season.
Phoenix has won seven straight games, the longest active win streak in the NBA. During that stretch, Phoenix has held its opponents to a combined .423 field goal percentage while shooting .557.
On the season, Philadelphia is averaging 96.5 points on .460 shooting. Over the past 22 games (17-5), however, the Sixers are averaging 102.0 points on .483 shooting from the floor.
Denver is averaging 118.6 points during its last 14 games (9-5), which includes a non-overtime franchise record 168 points vs. Seattle March 16. Denver tallied 663 total points in five games (March 14-)21, the highest point total in five straight games since Chicago scored 668 points over a five-game span in 1990.
Houston’s Rick Adelman has 799 coaching victories. He could record win No. 800 vs. his former team when the Rockets host the Sacramento Kings tonight. Adelman coached the Kings to a franchise-record 359 wins (1998-2006). Adelman (799-513, .614), the sixth-winningest active coach (behind Don Nelson, Pat Riley, Jerry Sloan, Phil Jackson and George Karl) is looking to become only the 13th coach in NBA history to win 800 games.
Adelman, who is on pace for his 10th 50-win season as a head coach, oversees a Rockets roster that contains six players with D-League experience, the second-most D-League-laden roster in the league. The six Rockets with D-League experience are: Rafer Alston, Aaron Brooks, Mike Harris, Chuck Hayes, Steve Novak and Loren Woods. The Miami Heat has eight players with D-League experience.
LeBron James became Cleveland’s all-time leading scorer after netting 29 points in Friday’s 90-83 win over Toronto. James, who now has 10,443 points, surpassed the franchise mark held by Brad Daugherty. Daugherty finished his Cavs career with 10,389 points.
– NBA News
Rockets sign Loren Woods to 10-day contract
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed center Loren Woods to a 10-day contract.
Woods (7-2, 260, Arizona) has averaged 2.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 208 games (47 starts) with Minnesota, Miami and Toronto. Internationally, Woods won the 2006-07 Lithuanian National Championship with BC Zalgiris Kaunas and has been playing this season with Efes Pilsen Istanbul in Euroleague. Woods was named the 2007-08 Euroleague Week 11 MVP, pacing Efes Pilsen with 16 points and 18 rebounds in a 91-84 overtime win against Le Mans. His 18 boards (10 offensive) stood as the second highest total in Euroleague history.
Selected by the Timberwolves in the second round (46th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft, Woods spent two seasons with Minnesota before signing as a free agent with the Heat in 2003-04. He was chosen by the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA Expansion Draft on June 22, 2004, and later signed with the Raptors on Aug. 18, 2004. With Toronto in 2004-05, Woods averaged career bests of 3.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.87 blocks in 45 games. Woods also averaged 4.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in 30 games as a starter that season with the Raptors. In 2005-06, the former standout at Arizona ranked ninth in the NBA in rebounds per 48 minutes (16.3 rpg) and 16th in blocks per 48 minutes (3.41 bpg) with Toronto.
Woods signed on with the Sacramento Kings on Aug.15, 2006, but was waived prior to the regular season. He later joined the Austin Toros of the NBA D-League in 2006-07, averaging 11.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.00 blocks in 15 games with the Toros.
So now that the Rockets lost
Now that the mighty Celtics put a defensive lockdown on the Rockets, ending Houston’s winning streak, it’ll be fun seeing how Houston does from this point on.
Maybe now the Rockets suddenly become mortal and just another good West squad. Or what if they fall off hard like the Trail Blazers did.
No matter what, give credit to the whole roster, including Rafer Alston who seriously balled up some terrific games. And salute coach Rick Adelman, whose effect took a while to kick in.
Stat-focused notes after Celtics end Rockets win streak
Final Score: Boston 94, Houston 74
POST-GAME NOTES
Team Leaders:
Houston
Points: Luis Scola-15
Rebounds: Luis Scola-8
Assists: Tracy McGrady-8
Boston
Points: Kevin Garnett-22
Rebounds: Kevin Garnett-11
Assists: Paul Pierce-5
Today’s attendance of 18,525 is Houston’s 23rd sellout at Toyota Center this season and marks the largest crowd in team history, surpassing the audience of 18,409 set last game vs. the L.A. Lakers (3/16/08). Houston’s top-five attendance totals at Toyota Center: 18,525 today, 18,409 vs. the L.A. Lakers (3/16/08), 18,402 vs. Cleveland (2/7/08), 18,392 vs. the L.A. Lakers (12/12/06) and 18,375 vs. Phoenix (4/16/07).
The Rockets have now sold out all of their last eight home games, which matches Houston’s longest single-season sellout streak at Toyota Center (eight games from 2/27/05-4/3/05).
The second longest winning streak in NBA history comes to a close at 22 games with a 94-74 loss to the Celtics, which also draws to a close a 15-game home winning streak for the Rockets. It was Houston’s first defeat since a 97-89 setback vs. Utah (1/27/08).
The Rockets scored a season-low 74 points in suffering their largest margin of defeat this season (-20, 74-94). Houston’s 72 points last season vs. Boston (2/26/07) were actually the fewest in the all-time series against the Celtics. The Rockets also registered their fewest points in a second half this season with 34 tonight, edging out a 35-point second half at Toronto (12/9/07).
Houston lost the battle of the boards by a double-digit margin (-10, 35-45) tonight. The Raptors (-13, 35-48 on 12/9/07 at Toronto) and Warriors (-13, 34-47 on 12/31/07 vs. Golden State) are the only other two opponents to have outrebounded Houston by a double-figure total this season.
The Celtics outscored the Rockets 32-16 in the third quarter, setting Houston’s opponent high for third-quarter points this season. The previous high was 31 done twice before (last: 3/2/08 vs. Denver). Houston has now scored a combined 28 third-quarter points over the last two games, including 12 points on 4-for-23 (.174) from the floor in the third quarter vs. the L.A. Lakers (3/16/08).
Rafer Alston finished with 12 points, including a pair of makes from beyond the arc. He now has at least one 3-point field goal made in each of the last 20 games.
Mike Harris came off the bench to notch 12 points (6-10 FG), matching his career-high 12 points (5-8 FG) vs. Charlotte (3/14/08).
Kevin Garnett (22), Leon Powe (21) and Paul Pierce (20) all reached the 20-point mark in tonight’s game. It was the first time this season for a Houston opponent to have three players each score 20 or more points in a game.
Rockets 22 straight wins, take lead in West
NBA News: With their 104-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, the Houston Rockets (46-20) extended their franchise-record winning streak to 22 games and took over sole possession of first place in the Western Conference. On Jan. 28, the day before the streak started, the Rockets were 24-20, in 10th place in the West and eight games out of first. Houston passed the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks on Friday for the second longest stretch in NBA history. The record of 33 straight victories was achieved by the Lakers in the 1971-72 season. The Rockets have won 26 of their last 27 games and 31 of their last 34. They’ve won 15 straight at the Toyota Center; 12 straight on the road; 10 straight since All-Star Yao Ming suffered a season-ending broken foot; and 11 of their last 13 games by double digits. The Rockets host the Boston Celtics tomorrow (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
The Celtics pace the league with a 52-13 mark and are an NBA-best 23-8 on the road. For the Celtics, however, tomorrow’s game in Houston is the start of a hyper-difficult Texas Triangle trip in which they will also play the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. The three Texas teams are a combined 80-18 (.816) at home this season, and are riding a 26 game winning streak. The last team to sweep the Texas Triangle trip was the 2001-02 Sacramento Kings (Nov. 27-30, 2001).
Rockets notes after beating Nets 91-73
Tonight’s attendance of 18,271 marks Houston’s 20th sellout at Toyota Center this season.
Houston won 91-73 to capture its 19th victory in a row (1/29/08-3/10/08), which matches the third longest winning streak in NBA history: 33 by the L.A. Lakers (11/5/71-1/7/1972), 20 by the Milwaukee Bucks (2/6/71-3/8/71) and 19 by the L.A. Lakers (2/4/00-3/13/00).
The Rockets have actually won their last 10 consecutive games by a double-digit margin (2/21/08-3/10/08), which equals the all-time record of 10 by the Washington Capitols in Dec. 1946 and 10 by the New Jersey Nets in Jan.-Feb. 2004.
The Nets scored the opening basket of the game, which marked the first time since the 2005-06 campaign that the Nets have held any kind of lead over the Rockets. New Jersey took a 90-77 win at Houston (3/13/06) in the second meeting that season. Houston then scored the opening points in the next three outings and never trailed in any of those games with New Jersey (12/27/06, 3/9/07 and 12/7/07).
Houston kept New Jersey to just 24-of-79 (.304) from the floor to set the 2007-08 opponent lows for field goals made and field goal percentage. The previous lows were 25 field goals (done twice: last 1/25/08 at Portland) and .313 shooting by the Wizards at Houston (2/26/08). The Rockets also held the Nets to 28 points on .209 (9-43 FG) shooting in the first half to set Houston’s opponent low in field goal percentage for a half, eclipsing the .213 (10-47 FG) mark set by the Wizards in the first half at Houston (2/26/08). Houston also limited New Jersey to an opponent quarter-low .158 (3-19 FG) from the floor in the second stanza, surpassing a .167 mark set by the Hornets in the second quarter at New Orleans (2/22/08).
Tonight was the third time this season that Houston has held an opponent to fewer than 30 points in a half. The Rockets gave up just 29 second-half points to the Trail Blazers at Portland (1/25/08) and limited the Wizards to a franchise-low 23 points in the first half vs. Washington (2/26/08).
New Jersey went 0-for-6 from downtown to become Houston’s third opponent this season to go scoreless from beyond the arc. Minnesota was held 0-for-6 from downtown at Houston (1/11/08) and Atlanta was 0-for-5 from 3-point range at Houston (2/9/08).
Tracy McGrady finished with game-high 19 points and four assists, including a 13-point third quarter.
Rafer Alston had 12 points and three assists, snapping his string of consecutive 20-point outings at three games.
Steve Novak registered a career-high 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 3FG), surpassing his 10-point (4-4 FG, 2-2 3FG) outing vs. Utah (1/27/08).
Dikembe Mutombo posted six rebounds and a season-high five blocks. Mutombo has now upped his total to 17 blocked shots (2.43 bpg) over his seven starts for Yao Ming.
With a game-high 10 rebounds tonight, Chuck Hayes picked up his 25th career double-digit rebounding performances and his seventh of this season.
Vince Carter finished with a team-high 13 points and three assists. Carter, who topped the Nets with 32 points at New Jersey (12/7/07), had almost the same number of points in that game as the top three New Jersey scorers from tonight’s outing (35 combined points: Carter-13, Jefferson-12 and Harris-10).
Houston Rockets notes
27-3: Houston is 27-3 over its last 30 games, registering 27 wins over a 30-game span within a single season for the first time ever in the club’s history.
Beyond the Arc: Houston connected on 14-of-34 (.412) from beyond the arc vs. New Orleans (3/8/08), setting Houston’s season high in 3-pointers made (prev. high: 13 on 2/24/08 vs. Chicago and 13 on 3/5/08 vs. Indiana) and matching the season best in 3-point attempts (34 on 12/20/07 at Denver and 34 on 3/5/08 vs. Indiana).
Western Conference Player of the Week: Tracy McGrady was named today by the NBA as Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, Mar. 3 through Sunday, Mar. 9. It is his second such honor this season after winning West Player of the Week earlier this season for games played Oct. 30-Nov. 4. Overall, it marks McGrady’s seventh time with the Rockets and the 12th time in his career to be named NBA’s Conference Player of the Week.
Rockets waive Gerald Green and sign Mike Harris to 10-day contract
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed forward Mike Harris to a 10-day contract. The Rockets also waived guard/forward Gerald Green, who was acquired by Houston via trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 21, 2008.
That was quick! Gerald Green sure didn’t last long. Well, he had wanted minutes, and apparently doesn’t seem to be getting them anywhere. He’s got more game development to do, judging by how many teams have moved him in his short career so far.
As for this news:
Harris (6-6, 240, Rice), who signed with the Rockets as a rookie free agent on July 13, 2007, averaged 5.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while playing in Houston’s first two preseason games this season. Released by the Rockets on Oct. 22, Harris averaged 24.3 points and 11.6 rebounds in just 28 minutes per game in 25 outings with DongGuan (2007-08) of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Harris’ season highs in the CBA included a 46-point, 26-rebound game. The former standout at Rice University also averaged 12.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in five games with Houston in the 2007 NBA Summer League presented by adidas.
In 2006-07, Harris averaged 6.0 points and 2.4 rebounds in five preseason games with the Milwaukee Bucks. Selected third overall in the 2006 D-League Draft by Colorado, Harris also averaged 11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.54 blocks in 48 games (16 starts) with the 14ers in 2006-07.
Green, who was on the inactive list for five games with the Rockets, scored six points and two rebounds in his only game with Houston vs. Washington (2/26/08).
Yao Ming has left foot surgery
Surgery for Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming was successfully completed this morning at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. Houston Rockets Team Physician Dr. Tom Clanton and his associate Dr. Bill McGarvey performed the surgery to repair a stress fracture in the tarsal navicular bone of his left foot.
“Yao is comfortable and recovering well after surgery,” said Clanton. “At this stage, we will continue to monitor his recovery and begin an aggressive rehabilitation once he is physically deemed ready.”
Statement from Yao Ming: “I am very relieved that everything went well with my surgery today. I am looking forward to getting better and starting my physical rehab as soon as the doctors say I can. I would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes during this time and I look forward to the day that I can rejoin my Rockets teammates on the bench.”