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Pistons top Rockets despite McGrady's 43
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-23 15:33
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton each scored 24
points, and the Detroit Pistons overcame Tracy McGrady's season-high 43 to beat
the Houston Rockets 99-97 Sunday for their seventh straight win.
Detroit Pistons
forward Tayshaun Prince, left, takes a shot against Houston Rockets
forward Chuck Hayes (44) in the first half of their NBA basketball game
Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006, in Auburn Hills, Mich. [AP] |
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McGrady was only 2-for-8 from the field in the fourth quarter as Houston
(13-26) lost for the eighth time in nine games. Rockets forward Ryan Bowen left
the game early in the second quarter after complaining of an irregular
heartbeat.
The Rockets led 88-87 in the fourth quarter before Maurice Evans hit a
3-pointer with 6:28 to play that gave Detroit (33-5) the lead for good. The
Pistons had to sweat out a potential go-ahead or tying basket in the last 3
seconds, as Houston's Luther Head missed a 3-pointer and Juwan Howard's
attempted tip bounced off the rim.
The Pistons had a 55-46 halftime lead, with McGrady keeping Houston close by
scoring 21 points on 8-for-15 shooting. He was even better in the third quarter,
when he was 7-for-10 and scored 16 points. He and David Wesley had baskets in
the last 7 seconds of the period to cut the Detroit lead to 78-77.
Ben Wallace had 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Pistons, who are 17-3 at
the Palace of Auburn Hills this season. Rasheed Wallace and Evans added 11
apiece.
Howard scored 16 for the Rockets.
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