Rockets 102 - 105 Bulls
Final
  for this game

Rockets overcoming McGrady's absence

Feb 28, 2009 - 11:12 AM Houston (37-21) at Chicago (26-33) 8:30 p.m. EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- No Tracy McGrady, no problem for the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets look to remain undefeated since losing McGrady for the rest of the season when they host the slumping Chicago Bulls on Saturday.

McGrady, who was third on the team averaging 15.6 points in 35 games, battled pain in his left knee for a majority of the campaign before deciding to shut it down for the remainder and undergo microfracture surgery.

Despite his absence, Houston has been on a roll, winning all six games during its homestand, which concluded with a 93-74 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.

Yao Ming scored 10 of 28 points in the third quarter for the Rockets, who turned a five-point game at halftime into a blowout by outscoring Cleveland, 23-10, during the session.

The Bulls had some major support against the lowly Washington Wizards on Friday as Barack Obama attended an NBA game for the first time since he was sworn in as the nation's 44th president - sitting courtside.

However, it was no help as Chicago endured its second straight loss and third in the last four games, dropping a 113-90 decision to the Wizards.






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