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Rockets look to bounce back from tough loss, visit Bulls

Jan 8, 2007 - 3:10 PM Houston (21-13) at Chicago (20-14) 8:30 pm EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets have managed to make do without the injured Yao Ming. But perhaps their good fortune is starting to run out.

The Rockets hope to bounce back from a tough loss Monday when they visit the Chicago Bulls.

Despite Yao's absence, Houston reeled off an improbable five-game winning streak from December 27-January 5.

But the Rockets clearly missed their 7-6 center in Sunday's 103-99 loss at Minnesota, as Kevin Garnett collected 16 of his 26 points and eight of his 13 rebounds after halftime.

McGrady 31 points to pace the Rockets, who yielded an average of 86 points during their five-game run before tiring defensively against the Timberwolves. McGrady has scored at least 31 points in each of Houston's last five contests.

The Bulls, who snapped a two-game losing streak with an easy 106-89 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, have been very strong at home this year, going 15-3. Only Utah, which is 14-2 at home, has lost fewer home games than the Bulls.

Luol Deng led Chicago with 30 points Saturday and Ben Gordon added 23 points.