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Spurs look bounce back against shorthanded Rockets

Nov 16, 2007 - 4:11 PM Houston (6-3) at San Antonio (7-1) 8:00 pm EST

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) - The San Antonio Spurs were uncharacteristically porous on defense in their loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. They figure to bounce back a day later against the Houston Rockets, especially if Tracy McGrady is not around.

The Spurs look rebound from their loss to the Mavericks when they return home Friday to host the Rockets, who likely will be without McGrady.

One of the NBA's top defensive teams for the last decade, San Antonio looked lost defensively in the first half of Thursday's 105-92 loss at Dallas.

In allowing over 100 points for just the second time this campaign, the Spurs allowed season-highs of 59 points in the first half and 33 points in the opening quarter.

Tim Duncan scored 24 points for the Spurs, who had their four-game winning streak snapped and lost for just the second time this season.

San Antonio's other loss was an 89-81 setback November 6 at Houston, a game in which McGrady scored just 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting. The reigning NBA champion Spurs had trouble containing Houston's All-Star center Yao Ming, who had 28 points and 13 rebounds in the contest.

Yao likely will need to have another big performance Friday without McGrady, who is nursing a sprained elbow and is listed as day-to-day. The NBA's third-leading scorer, McGrady will be sidelined up to a week, according to various reports.

McGrady suffered the injury during Wednesday night's 93-90 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The seven-time All-Star underwent an MRI which revealed no tendon or ligament damage.

The Rockets have won three of their last four meetings with the Spurs.