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McGrady, Rockets aim to continue home dominance of Hawks

Feb 9, 2008 - 12:32 PM Atlanta (22-25) at Houston (29-20) 8:30 pm EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Tracy McGrady is expected to play when the Houston Rockets shoot for a ninth straight home win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

That is bad news for Atlanta, which has not won in Houston since a 93-87 victory on February 25, 1999.

McGrady, who is battling flu-like symptoms, has been a big reason the Hawks have not had many memorable trips to Houston. The swingman is averaging 28.6 points in his last 11 games against Atlanta.

An 11th-year veteran, McGrady will look to bounce back after being limited to eight points on 3-of-11 shooting in a 94-77 win over Cleveland on Thursday.

Houston is on a hot streak, having won five straight and nine of its last 10 games.

Meanwhile, Atlanta had its three-game winning streak snapped in a 100-95 loss to Cleveland on Friday. Though hampered by a toe injury, All-Star Joe Johnson scored 23 points, with eight assists and six rebounds.

The Hawks, who were trying for a season-high fourth straight win, allowed 100 points for just the second time in the last eight games.