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Bucks-Rockets Preview

Jan 18, 2010 - 2:32 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Milwaukee (16-22) at Houston (22-18), 3:00 p.m. EDT

The Houston Rockets weren't happy with their defensive performance during their last game at the Toyota Center.

Over the past decade, however, they've had little trouble containing the Milwaukee Bucks there.

Houston looks to break out of its recent slump and win its 10th straight at home over Milwaukee on Monday.

The Rockets (22-18) have played well at the Toyota Center this season, going 12-5 and winning eight straight there before suffering a 115-106 loss to Miami on Friday. It was the second-most points they've allowed in a home game this season and came after they held their previous eight opponents to an average of 96.8 points.

Luis Scola and Chase Budinger each scored 17 points and Houston hit nine of its first 13 shots to build an early lead, but the Rockets struggled to contain Dwyane Wade, who scored 37 points. The Heat shot 53.6 percent.

"(The problem) certainly wasn't offensively," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "We scored 106 points, had six guys in double figures and shot 48 percent which is not what we normally do and we lose going away by 9. We just have to find a way to regroup in the next few days."

The Rockets have split their last four games following a three-game losing streak. Opponents have shot better than 50 percent against them in four of the last five.

"I don't care if it's on the road or at home, we have to play a better brand of basketball than we're playing right now," forward Shane Battier said.

Houston has certainly played better against Milwaukee (16-22), going 14-4 against the Bucks since the 2000-01 season. The Rockets have won nine straight at home during that stretch, holding Milwaukee to an average of 89.1 points and 41.4 percent shooting.

Houston figures to have another chance to extend its winning streak over Milwaukee given the Bucks' struggles since losing Michael Redd to a season-ending knee injury.

Milwaukee has lost three of four since Redd was injured and four of five overall on this six-game road trip. The Bucks lost 112-95 to Utah on Saturday, allowing the Jazz to shoot 56.4 percent.

Carlos Delfino scored a career-high 28 points, but leading scorer Brandon Jennings went 1 of 8 from the field and finished with five points. Milwaukee was outscored 31-20 in the first quarter and trailed by as much as 22. It was the first time in four games the Bucks failed to score 100 points.

"We came out with no energy," said Andrew Bogut, who had 10 points and 11 rebounds. "Our defense wasn't too good early. We just didn't bring it today."

Jennings struggled after scoring 25 points in a win at Golden State on Friday. Although the rookie guard matched his season high with 11 assists, he also tied his fewest points scored of the season.

Looking for some help for Jennings, the Bucks are on the verge of signing Jerry Stackhouse, pending a physical. The 14-year veteran played 10 games for Dallas last season, averaging 4.2 points. He was part of a four-team, eight-player trade in the offseason and became an unrestricted free agent this summer, when Memphis bought out his contract for $2 million.

The Bucks haven't beaten the Rockets in Houston since a 98-93 victory in 1999.