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Rockets go for 19th consecutive win vs. Nets

Mar 10, 2008 - 1:50 PM New Jersey (26-37) at Houston (42-20) 8:30 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Rockets can become only the fourth team in NBA history to win 19 consecutive games if they can get past the New Jersey Nets on Monday.

The 1999-2000 Los Angeles Lakers were the last team to win 19 straight. The surge has pushed Houston into third place in the loaded Western Conference.

The Rockets are 6-0 with an average victory margin of 17.2 points since All-Star center Yao Ming was lost for the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his foot.

"Our concentration and focus is really all about the playoffs," Houston's Tracy McGrady said. "We've had pretty good runs in the regular season. The streak is great and we'll make a little history, but it really doesn't mean anything."

Rookie forward Carl Landry, who has averaged 13.8 points in his last five games, sat out the Rockets' 106-96 win over New Orleans on Saturday with a swollen knee and is questionable for Monday's game.

The Nets are 0-5 in March but remain in contention for an Eastern Conference playoff berth.

Houston has won three straight and six of the last seven games against the Nets.