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Rockets trying to avoid worst road skid since 2004

Jan 6, 2009 - 3:24 PM Houston (21-14) at Philadelphia (13-20) 7:00 p.m. EST

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The shorthanded Houston Rockets look to avoid losing five straight road games for the first time in more than four years against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

Minus Tracy McGrady (knee) and Ron Artest (ankle), Houston dropped a 103-100 decision to Atlanta on Saturday when Mike Bibby hit a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left.

Despite the loss, it was a better showing than the 94-73 setback to Toronto the previous night. Still, the Rockets would like to have two of the biggest stars back soon. Both are listed as day-to-day.

If McGrady and Artest can't go, it will make it that much more difficult for Houston to avoid its worst road losing streak since dropping five straight away from home from November 23-December 28, 2004.

The Rockets face Boston on Friday in the fourth game of their five-game road trip.

The Sixers can relate to the Rockets' road struggles, coming off a 1-5 road trip. On Saturday, Andre Miller scored 28 points on 12-of-14 shooting, but his spectacular effort could not save the Sixers from a 108-106 loss to San Antonio.