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Spurs can continue longtime home dominance of Rockets

Dec 22, 2006 - 3:25 PM Houston (15-10) at San Antonio (20-6) 8:00 pm EST

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Whenever Tim Duncan has played against the Houston Rockets at home, the outcome has always been the same.

The San Antonio Spurs look for their 18th consecutive home victory over the Rockets and their 10th in 11 overall games when the teams meet Friday for the second time this season.

Concluding a three-game homestand, San Antonio has not lost at home to Houston since April 20, 1997, and has taken 29 of the last 33 overall encounters, including seven in a row.

Duncan scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Manu Ginobili added 19 points as the Spurs rallied for a 92-84 win over Houston on November 14. Tracy McGrady led the Rockets with 26 points.

San Antonio has a six-game home winning streak and is 10-3 here. The Spurs won their fifth consecutive overall contest with Wednesday's 105-98 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Duncan scored 21 points, Michael Finley added 20 and Tony Parker 18 with 10 assists for the Spurs, who can match the best 27-game start in franchise set in each of the last two seasons.

A two-time scoring champ, McGrady has sat out the last five games with back spasms and is not expected to play.

Houston has dropped four of those five contests, including Wednesday's 89-87 defeat to the Portland Trail Blazers. Yao Ming scored 34 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked five shots for the Rockets.