• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

McGrady, Rockets aim to clinch home-court advantage

Apr 16, 2007 - 2:52 PM Phoenix (61-19) at Houston (51-29) 8:30 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) - The Houston Rockets can clinch home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs with one more win or a loss by the Utah Jazz.

Houston (51-29) has a two-game lead over Utah (49-31) with two left.

The Rockets would still qualify as the fifth seed while Utah is the fourth seed, but the better record would give Houston the home edge in a first-round playoff matchup between the teams.

On Monday, the Rockets host the Pacific Division champion Phoenix Suns.

Tracy McGrady scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to lead Houston to a 123-112 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday.

Houston All-Star Yao Ming recorded his sixth 30-point game since March 5 after recovering from a broken leg.

Phoenix enters with a five-game winning streak following Saturday's 126-98 victory over Utah.

Due to San Antonio's setback on Sunday, the Suns clinched the second seed in the Western Conference.

Houston's duo of McGrady and Yao combined to make just 9-of-37 shots in a 103-82 loss to Phoenix on March 12.