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McGrady, Rockets aim for fourth straight triumph

Jan 3, 2007 - 4:43 PM Seattle (13-20) at Houston (19-12) 8:30 pm EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Tracy McGrady undoubtedly will be counted on by the Houston Rockets to help make up for the absence of injured center Yao Ming.

So far, has had done an admirable job, and he leads the Rockets against the Seattle SuperSonics on Wednesday as Houston goes for its fourth straight win.

McGrady, who has totalled 69 points in his last two game alone, poured in a season-high 38 points as the Rockets edged the Memphis Grizzlies, 111-109, on Sunday. McGrady missed seven straight games earlier in the season with a bad back.

Juwan Howard helped out offensively with 22 points while Luther Head finished with 18 for the Rockets, who are 6-1 in their last seven meetings with Seattle.

Seattle has been struggling in going only 3-9 in their last 12 games. The Sonics looked very weak in their latest loss, a 112-88 drubbing at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.

The Sonics, who are only 4-13 on the road this season and have lost four of their last five games, scored a paltry 33 points in the second half, including only 16 in the final quarter when they were outscored, 34-16.

Ray Allen, averaging 24.3 points per game, led Seattle with 27 while Earl Watson finished with 15. The Sonics killed themselves at the free-throw line, shooting only 64 percent (16-of-25).