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Duncan, struggling Spurs face Rockets

Jan 19, 2008 - 3:50 PM San Antonio (25-12) at Houston (20-19) 8:30 pm EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Tim Duncan and the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs are suddenly struggling.

Duncan and the Spurs hope to avoid a second straight loss when they face the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

San Antonio lost, 90-88, to Cleveland on Thursday to finish a four-game homestand at 2-2. Manu Ginobili scored 31 points and Duncan had 20 and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who also fell for the fifth time in 10 games.

The NBA champions have really struggled on the road, losing five of six as they begin a 14-game stretch in which they play 12 times away from home. Overall, San Antonio is 6-8 on the road and hasn't had a losing record away from home since the 1995-95 season.

The Rockets, losers of two straight, may have seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady back after missing 11 consecutive contests with a bone bruise, strained tendon and patellar tendinitis in his left knee.

Houston dropped a 111-107 decision to Philadelphia on Tuesday to remain just a game above .500. Yao Ming scored 25 points and Rafer Alston added 20 for the Rockets, who squandered a 12-point lead in the final 10 minutes en route to the loss.

Houston, which had a season-high five-game winning stretch before its loss to New Orleans on Sunday, is 7-4 without McGrady and hopes to avoid its first three-game slide since December 15-20.