• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Landry, Rockets hand Nets 9th straight loss

Dec 27, 2009 - 3:23 AM EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.(AP) -- Reserve Carl Landry scored 26 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 98-93 victory Saturday night over New Jersey, sending the Nets to their ninth straight loss.

Aaron Brooks made a tiebreaking layup with 37 seconds left and scored 17 points, as did Luis Scola. Trevor Ariza added 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Rockets won for the fourth time in the last five games.

Houston, playing without Tracy McGrady this weekend, beat New Jersey for the seventh straight time.

Devin Harris led the Nets (2-28) with 19 points, while Yi Jianlian and Brook Lopez each had 17.

McGrady, who has played sparingly in six games since returning from microfracture surgery on his left knee, was not with the Rockets and won't play Sunday in Cleveland. According to the Houston Chronicle, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said the team would wait until it returned to Houston after the weekend to consider any changes to the rotation.

The Rockets led 70-69 after three quarters as the Nets, who had trailed by as many as 11, hung in gamely, getting a boost from rookie Terrence Williams.

Yi made the first basket of the final period, giving the Nets their first lead since the game's opening basket when he banked a shot off the glass for a one-point advantage.

That set the stage for a back-and-fourth final quarter until Landry took charge, putting Houston up by two on a pair of free throws followed by a driving dunk.

The Nets countered with consecutive baskets by Lopez to cut the Rockets' lead to 86-85. Both teams missed layups before Ariza hit a jumper to give Houston a three-point margin.

Keyon Dooling made a 3-pointer with 1:38 to even the score at 91. After Landry turned the ball over, the Nets could not grab the lead when Yi missed a wide-open jumper. Brooks then made his driving layup, giving the Rockets a 93-91 edge.

NOTES: Nets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe is 2-10 since also becoming coach after Lawrence Frank was fired. ... The Rockets avoided their second two-game losing streak. ... Yi was whistled for a technical foul for hanging on the rim with 2:26 remaining.