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Rockets hope McGrady will return to face Raptors

Feb 28, 2007 - 3:51 PM Toronto (31-26) at Houston (35-21) 8:30 pm EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- After one of their most dismal offensive performances of the season, the Houston Rockets hope things do not get worse.

The return of All-Star Tracy McGrady would be a step in the right direction for the Rockets, who look to avoid their third defeat in four games in Wednesday's encounter with the Toronto Raptors.

Ranked 14th in the NBA in scoring (24.6), McGrady missed Monday's 77-72 loss to the woeful Boston Celtics with flu-like symptoms. His absence was painfully obvious.

The Rockets set a season-low in points and shot just 32 percent (25-of-78) from the floor, including 1-of-22 from the arc. Shane Battier went 1-of-12 while Rafer Alston was 1-of-11.

Bonzi Wells scored 27 points for Houston, the league's second-best defensive team (90.6), which became the first squad to lose to Boston at home in 13 tries.

The Raptors are 18-8 in 2007, the league's third-best mark behind the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns. That strong stretch has enabled them to take a 3 1/2-game lead over the New Jersey Nets (28-30) in the Atlantic Division race.

Toronto is coming off Monday's 107-91 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Rookie Andrea Bargnani scored 17 points, Rasho Nesterovic had 16 and Chris Bosh 14.

Houston has won nine of the 11 previous home matchups against Toronto, but dropped both overall meetings last season.