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Streaking Rockets look for ninth win in 11 games

Mar 26, 2007 - 2:38 PM Milwaukee (25-43) at Houston (44-25) 8:30 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Rockets are running out of time to move up in the division standings, but the conference standings are a different story.

The Rockets aim for their ninth win in 11 games Monday when they face the Milwaukee Bucks.

In the competitive Southwest Division, the Rockets are in third place behind league-leading Dallas and San Antonio. They trail second-place San Antonio by 5 1/2 games with 12 to play.

But while they likely will not move up in the division, the Rockets can catch Utah for fourth-place and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Houston is just 1 1/2 games back of Utah (45-24).

Houston had its five-game winning streak snapped in a 106-94 loss to New Orleans on Sunday. Tracy McGrady scored 31 points and Yao Ming 16 for the Rockets, who have won five straight home games after losing their previous three.

Already looking toward next season, Milwaukee has lost four of its last six games and is coming off Sunday's 121-95 home drubbing at the hands of Detroit.

Ersan Ilyasova scored 21 points to lead the Bucks, who have just nine road wins this season. Michael Redd, who leads the Bucks at 27.2 points per game, managed just 14 Sunday.