Box Score

 

ORLANDO (86)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
D Gooden            40  2-10   4-4   1-4   2   2    8
J Howard            42 10-18   2-3   2-7   3   5   22
S Hunter            32   7-9   1-4   4-9   1   5   15
T McGrady           41  5-21   2-3   1-6   5   2   14
T Lue               38  5-12   7-7   2-5   7   1   18
Z Pachulia           7   0-2   0-0   0-0   0   1    0
K Bogans            18   3-6   0-0   1-2   0   0    7
S Williams          13   0-0   1-1   0-1   1   1    1
P Garrity            5   0-0   0-0   0-0   0   0    0
D Harvey             4   0-1   1-2   1-1   0   1    1
A DeClercq         DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
R Gaines           DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 32-79 18-24 12-35  19  18   86
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.405, FT-.750. 3-Point Goals:
4-9, .444 (T McGrady 2-4, T Lue 1-2, K Bogans
1-3). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:5 (S 
Hunter 2, T McGrady, D Gooden, T Lue). 
Turnovers:11 (T McGrady 5, T Lue, D Harvey, S
Hunter, D Gooden, K Bogans, Z Pachulia). 
Steals: 6 (J Howard 2, T McGrady, T Lue, K 
Bogans, Z Pachulia).


HOUSTON (96)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
J Jackson           34  2-11   0-0   0-5   3   5    5
K Cato              30   3-7   4-4  4-11   1   3   10
Y Ming              34  6-18   4-6  6-11   3   2   16
S Francis           44 11-18   6-8   2-7   6   1   31
C Mobley            42  9-14   1-2   0-2   2   2   21
T Braggs            15   0-2   0-0  5-10   1   1    0
B Nachbar           19   2-7   0-0   0-2   3   1    6
S Padgett           15   3-3   0-2   2-3   1   1    7
M Norris             7   0-0   0-0   0-0   1   0    0
J Amaechi          DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
M Taylor           DNP  - SUSPENDED BY LEAGUE                            
M Wilks            DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 36-80 15-22 19-51  21  16   96
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.450, FT-.682. 3-Point Goals:
9-22, .409 (J Jackson 1-8, S Francis 3-6, C 
Mobley 2-2, B Nachbar 2-5, S Padgett 1-1). 
Team Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:6 (S Francis
2, K Cato, S Padgett, B Nachbar, Y Ming). 
Turnovers:15 (J Jackson 3, C Mobley 3, S 
Francis 3, T Braggs 3, K Cato 2, Y Ming). 
Steals: 6 (S Francis 2, J Jackson, T Braggs, 
Y Ming, K Cato).

-------------------------------------------
ORLANDO              26  25  22  13   -  86
HOUSTON              29  28  22  17   -  96
------------------------------------------- 

Technical fouls: Houston - 4 (Defensive 
Three, 0:17 1st; Defensive Three, 7:49 3rd; 
Defensive Three, 10:56 3rd; Y Ming, 2:50 
4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,148. T: 2:14. 
Officials: Jack Nies, Jess Kersey, Marc Davis.

Extended Box

 

ORLANDO (86) AT HOUSTON (96)

ORLANDO

                                               REBOUNDS                        
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
D GOODEN          F    40    2-10     4-4      1   3   4    2   2   0   1    8
J HOWARD          F    42   10-18     2-3      2   5   7    3   5   2   0   22
S HUNTER          C    32    7-9      1-4      4   5   9    1   5   0   1   15
T MCGRADY         G    41    5-21     2-3      1   5   6    5   2   1   5   14
T LUE             G    38    5-12     7-7      2   3   5    7   1   1   1   18
Z PACHULIA              7    0-2      0-0      0   0   0    0   1   1   1    0
K BOGANS               18    3-6      0-0      1   1   2    0   0   1   1    7
S WILLIAMS             13    0-0      1-1      0   1   1    1   1   0   0    1
P GARRITY               5    0-0      0-0      0   0   0    0   0   0   0    0
D HARVEY                4    0-1      1-2      1   0   1    0   1   0   1    1
A DECLERCQ            DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
R GAINES              DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
  
TOTALS                240   32-79    18-24    12  23  35   19  18   6  11   86
                            (.405)  (.750)  TEAM REBS:  8 TOTAL TO: 11 (19 PTS)    

HOUSTON

                                               REBOUNDS                         
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
J JACKSON         F    34    2-11     0-0      0   5   5    3   5   1   3    5
K CATO            F    30    3-7      4-4      4   7  11    1   3   1   2   10
Y MING            C    34    6-18     4-6      6   5  11    3   2   1   1   16
S FRANCIS         G    44   11-18     6-8      2   5   7    6   1   2   3   31
C MOBLEY          G    42    9-14     1-2      0   2   2    2   2   0   3   21
T BRAGGS               15    0-2      0-0      5   5  10    1   1   1   3    0
B NACHBAR              19    2-7      0-0      0   2   2    3   1   0   0    6
S PADGETT              15    3-3      0-2      2   1   3    1   1   0   0    7
M NORRIS                7    0-0      0-0      0   0   0    1   0   0   0    0
J AMAECHI             DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
M TAYLOR              DNP  - SUSPENDED BY LEAGUE                                      
M WILKS               DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
  
TOTALS                240   36-80    15-22    19  32  51   21  16   6  15   96
                            (.450)  (.682)  TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 16 (17 PTS)    
  
   ORLANDO            26   25   22   13   -   86
   HOUSTON            29   28   22   17   -   96
  
BLOCKED SHOTS: ORLANDO - S HUNTER 2, T MCGRADY, D GOODEN, T LUE.  HOUSTON -
S FRANCIS 2, K CATO, S PADGETT, B NACHBAR, Y MING.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: ORLANDO 4-9 (.444), T MCGRADY 2-4, T LUE 1-2, K BOGANS 1-
3. HOUSTON 9-22 (.409), J JACKSON 1-8, S FRANCIS 3-6, C MOBLEY 2-2,
B NACHBAR 2-5, S PADGETT 1-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: HOUSTON - DEFENSIVE THREE 3, Y MING.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JACK NIES, JESS KERSEY, MARC DAVIS.
A - 18,148. T - 2:14.

Game Story

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The season has just begun, but Tracy 
McGrady and the Orlando Magic already could use a vacation.

McGrady had another horrible shooting night as Steve Francis and
Cuttino Mobley led the Houston Rockets to a 96-86 triumph over
the Magic, who have lost six straight games.

Francis scored 31 points on 11-of-18 shooting and Mobley chipped
in 21 and stellar defense on McGrady for the Rockets, who
improved to 4-1.

"I thought we all played together and that's what we've done in
the four games that we have won," Francis said.  "I thought
everybody came out focused.  We knew we had a lull for a couple
minutes, but I thought everybody was on the same page and we got
the job done.  I thought that it started with the defense on
McGrady."

Yao Ming added 16 points and 11 rebounds and Kelvin Cato 10 and
11 for Houston, which has won three in a row over Orlando after
losing 14 of the previous 15 encounters.

"We were talking about our original plan to defend Tracy
McGrady," Yao said.  "Our whole defense was centered on stopping
him."

McGrady, who scored just four points in a 100-71 home loss to
Minnesota on Friday, scored 14 points but was hounded by Mobley
into 5-of-21 shooting.  The perennial All-Star has just 22
points in his last five halves.

"I had a lot of help from the team (guarding McGrady)," Mobley
said.  "Jeff's (Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy) philosophy (of
team defense) helped me out a lot.  I definitely enjoy the
challenge.  I want to prove to people I can play.  Jeff gives me
the opportunity to showcase what I can do.  He has high
expectations of me, offensively and defensively."

"Cuttino did a good job of having a hand in (McGrady's) face
every single time," Francis said.  "Somebody had a hand in his
face all the time."

Juwan Howard scored 22 points, Tyronn Lue added 18 and Steven
Hunter 15 for Orlando, which is on its longest losing streak
since an eight-game skid from January 7-20, 2000.

Houston held just an 81-78 advantage before Mobley nailed a
jumper and Cato had a dunk and pair of free throws to make it
87-78 with 8:36 remaining.  Orlando got no closer than six
points thereafter.

"I liked the way we played," Magic coach Doc Rivers said.  "In
the fourth quarter we had good shots, but we didn't execute our
offense well.  Things aren't going well for us and when that
happens, usually shots don't fall.  They have to keep thinking
positive."

"We kept fighting to the end and then ran out of gas," Lue said.
"We just couldn't get over the hump."

Houston outrebounded Orlando, 51-35, and had three players reach
double figures in the category.  Unheralded backup forward
Torraye Braggs was held scoreless but grabbed a career-high 10
rebounds.

"I'm trying to focus on rebounding and bringing energy," Braggs
said.  "I just have to play my part before (suspended forwards
Maurice Taylor and Eddie Griffin) get back.  We're just trying
to fill in before the normal guys get back and play our roles."

The Rockets, who held a 29-26 edge after one quarter, opened up
a 41-27 lead 3:36 into the second period before the Magic
climbed within 57-51 at the break.

"I didn't think much of our team defense in the first half," Van
Gundy said.  "As a group it was very good in the second half.
The first half we were really good offensively.  The second half
was a little flip-flop."

"That was really a big pickup for Houston (getting Van Gundy in
the offseason)," Howard said.  "He is a great coach and it's
really good to see him out there teaching."