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Knicks face Rockets, look for second home win

Nov 20, 2006 - 4:10 PM Houston (6-4) at New York (4-7) 7:30 pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The New York Knicks suffered a bad home loss on Saturday. Two days later, they will face a tougher team on their home floor.

In search of their second home win, the Knicks will face the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

New York was riding a two-game winning streak after routing Indiana and Miami. However, the Knicks had their run snapped by the Boston Celtics, who have struggled for most of the season.

The Celtics used numerous runs to post a wild 122-118 victory over the Knicks on Saturday. Boston was 50-of-63 from the foul line, but nearly blew a 20-point lead in the second half.

Trailing, 85-65, with 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, New York fought back and took a brief 101-100 lead with 4:22 remaining in the game on Stephon Marbury's second-effort layup. On the ensuing possession, the Celtics would regain the lead and never trail again.

Yao Ming had 33 points and 16 rebounds and Tracy McGrady added 24 points for the Rockets, who shot 42 percent (29-of-69) and made only 5-of-20 from the arc in a 104-92 loss to Detroit on Saturday.

The two Houston superstars have played well recently, including Yao's dominating performance against New York earlier this month. The 7-5 Yao collected 35 points, 17 rebounds and a career-high seven blocks while controlling the entire game as the Rockets held off the Knicks, 103-94 on November 10.