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Hornets-Rockets Preview

Dec 28, 2009 - 8:49 PM By JUSTIN EINHORN STATS Senior Editor

New Orleans (13-15) at Houston (18-13), 8:30 p.m. EDT

The Houston Rockets had some problems on their road trip. There is a potentially big one waiting for them back home - Tracy McGrady.

After the former superstar left the team over the weekend, it remains unclear if McGrady will return to the Rockets on Tuesday night when they meet the New Orleans Hornets.

The seven-time All-Star - he even ranks third among guards in this season's voting despite playing six games - is unhappy with his diminished role since coming back from microfracture knee surgery. The two-time scoring champion returned Dec. 15 and has played less than eight minutes in each game, averaging 3.2 points.

Though he accompanied the team to New Jersey for its game Saturday, he was given permission to return home and that's just what he did. McGrady didn't play against the Nets or at Cleveland on Sunday.

The Rockets (18-13) were expected to make a decision on McGrady upon returning home, though they have yet to announce anything new on his status.

McGrady's last game came Wednesday at Orlando, where Houston opened a three-game road trip with a 102-87 loss. Three nights later, the Rockets struggled to beat league-worst New Jersey 98-93, and they trailed by at least 15 for the final 18 minutes of a 108-83 defeat to the Cavaliers.

It was the fourth time in two weeks Houston has had to play on back-to-back days.

"Watching some of our guys, we ran out of gas," coach Rick Adelman said. "We didn't have anything left to respond. I think the energy was really gone at that point."

The Rockets shot 37.9 percent on the road trip while averaging 89.3 points, 11.1 below their season average.

Trevor Ariza has shot 20.8 percent, including 3 for 20 from 3-point range, over the last four games. He's averaged 9.3 points during that stretch, seven below his season average.

"He's got to be more aware, I think, and see what shots he's getting and where he's getting them. He might be (pressing)," Adelman said.

The good news for the Rockets is they're returning home to face a terrible road team. While Houston has won four straight at Toyota Center and is 8-4 there - none of the losses were to sub-.500 teams - New Orleans has the West's worst road record at 2-12.

The Hornets (13-15) lost 96-85 at Chicago on Saturday. They were held to four points for the first 11 minutes of the third quarter and finished the period with nine as the Bulls took control.

"I can't let us come out that sluggish (in the second half)," Chris Paul said. "That third quarter was just bad. What was the score, 23-9? That's unacceptable, especially on the road. It's my responsibility."

Paul failed to score more than 16 points for the seventh time in 10 games since returning Dec. 4 from a sprained ankle that sidelined him for more than two weeks.

The All-Star point guard averaged 14.4 assists in the first seven as the Hornets went 5-2, but he's had seven in each of the last three as New Orleans shot a combined 40.7 percent. The Hornets lost two of those games and struggled to beat lowly Golden State at home in the other.

This is the teams' first matchup since last season, when the Rockets won three of four meetings. The last one saw the Hornets come within a point of the lowest total in franchise history, falling 86-66 on April 13 in their third straight loss at Houston.

The teams meet again Saturday in New Orleans.