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Rockets seek fourth win in five games vs. Hawks

Feb 23, 2007 - 3:06 PM Houston (34-19) at Atlanta (21-33) 7:30 pm EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Houston Rockets have realistic hopes of gaining home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.

The league's top defensive team, Houston can win for the fourth time in five games Friday when it visits the struggling Atlanta Hawks.

The Rockets have won 18 of 26 games since center Yao Ming fractured his right leg and are in fifth place in the Western Conference standings, one game in back of the Utah Jazz.

Averaging 24.1 points to rank among the league leaders, Tracy McGrady came back from his All-Star Game performance to score 32 and lead six players in double figures for Houston in Wednesday's 112-102 triumph over the Miami Heat.

Rafer Alston hit six 3-pointers to score 20 points, Juwan Howard added 15 and Dikembe Mutombo grabbed 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who rebounded after scoring just 77 last Thursday in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

The league's lowest-scoring squad at 92.3 ppg, the Hawks have dropped three of their last four and are just 9-21 at home. Only the Philadelphia 76ers have fewer home victories (five) this season.

Atlanta is coming off Wednesday's 103-96 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. All-Star Joe Johnson scored 30 points and Zaza Pachulia added 23 with 10 rebounds.

On Thursday, the Hawks acquired guard Anthony Johnson from the Dallas Mavericks for a second-round pick in this year's draft. He averaged 3.8 points in 40 games this season and will begin his third stint with Atlanta.