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McGrady, Bryant face off as Rockets host Lakers

Jan 10, 2007 - 3:56 PM LA Lakers (23-12) at Houston (22-13) 8:30 pm EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Two of the most talented players in the NBA, Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant finally will face off.

McGrady and the Houston Rockets look for their seventh win in eight games Wednesday when they host Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

McGrady has missed Houston's last three games against the Lakers - all Los Angeles wins - and has only been able to watch as Bryant has averaged 39.7 points in those contests, including a 53-point outburst in a double-overtime victory on December 15.

Now healthy, McGrady will be able to counter his fellow All-Star's brilliance. With Yao Ming sidelined, McGrady has shouldered the scoring load for the Rockets, averaging 30.3 points in the eight games since his return. The 6-8 swingman has scored at least 30 points in six straight games and netted a season-high 44 points vs. Utah on Friday.

On Monday, McGrady scored 25 of his 31 points in the second half and made the decisive jumper while Shane Battier made two defensive stops in the final minute as Houston rallied for an 84-77 victory over Chicago.

The Lakers look to bounce back from their 128-118 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Bryant scored 25 points for Los Angeles, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.