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Yao, McGrady hope to build momentum against sliding Magic

Mar 11, 2007 - 5:13 PM Orlando (29-34) at Houston (38-24) 6:30 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady finally are starting show what the Houston Rockets are supposed to look like.

The Rockets look for their third win in four games with Yao back in the lineup when they take on the struggling Orlando Magic on Sunday.

The 7-5 Yao was sidelined for nearly three months with a broken leg. Although Houston managed to go 20-12 without its superstar center, they are much more dangerous with him.

In his first two games back, Yao was rusty and sloppy with the ball, struggling to get in any kind of rhythm. He looked more comfortable on the offensive end against New Jersey on Friday, collecting 24 points and 13 rebounds in a 112-91 victory.

McGrady scored 34 points and has teamed with Yao to help Houston ratchet up its offense. The Rockets have scored at least 110 points in their last two games.

They will continue their slate against sliding Eastern Conference opponents when they face the Magic, who had the best record in the East in December but have fallen into an eighth-place tie with New York (29-34).

Thursday's 100-76 loss at Chicago dropped Orlando to 10-21 on the road, where it has lost nine of 10. The Magic are a woeful 16-30 since a 13-4 start.