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Slumping Warriors on the road again

Dec 5, 2008 - 11:24 AM Golden State (5-13) at Houston (12-7) 8:30 p.m. EST

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- After blowing a chance to end their long slide at home, the Golden State Warriors are headed on the road again.

The Warriors try to avoid their eighth straight loss on Friday when they open a three-game road trip against the Houston Rockets.

Following a 115-110 loss to the Chicago Bulls on November 21, Golden State dropped each contest during a five-game road trip, falling to 2-8 away from home.

The Warriors were 13 seconds away from ending their drought on Monday, but some last-second heroics by the Miami Heat sent the team to its longest losing streak since they dropped nine consecutive games from March 27 to April 11, 2006.

With the Heat trailing, 129-126, with 13 seconds remaining in overtime, Chris Quinn nailed his lone 3-pointer from the corner to tie the score with seven seconds left.

Rookie Michael Beasley, who finished with 19 points, then stole the inbounds pass, drove to the net and was fouled. He hit the first free throw before badly missing the second, giving Miami a 130-129 edge.

Jamal Crawford, who poured in 40 points in his first game at Oracle Arena since being acquired form the New York Knicks on November 21, missed a running jumper as time expired.

The Rockets avoided their second losing streak of the season on Wednesday, claiming their seventh straight victory against the Los Angels Clippers, 103-96.

Yao Ming had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Rafer Alston added 21 points and Ron Artest scored 19 for Houston, which will be without Tracy McGrady for three weeks while the two-time scoring champion rehabilitates his surgically repaired left knee.