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Francis gets speical win; Rockets face tough road trip
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-10 09:04
Steve Francis gave the proper answer, followed by the true one. He scored 27
points and had two big assists late in the Orlando Magic's 76-74 victory over
the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night. It was the Magic's first win of the season
— and it came against the team that traded Francis to Orlando before last
season.
lOrlando Magic
guard Steve Francis leans on Houston Rockets center Yao Ming in the fourth
period of NBA action en route to the Magic's 76-74 win over the Rockets in
Houston November 8, 2005. [Reuters] | "It doesn't
matter where we got it," Francis said. "We just had to have a win. It didn't
matter if it was here or at home."
Now, for the real emotion after beating the franchise that traded him after
five seasons and doing it in front of their fans.
"I really enjoyed the win," said Francis, who broke into a smile in the
closing seconds, then enthusiastically slapped hands with friends at courtside —
right in front of Rockets owner Les Alexander. "It was a great victory,
especially against the Rockets."
In other games Tuesday, it was: the Los Angeles Lakers 103, Atlanta 97;
Memphis 94, Seattle 69; Golden State 110, Milwaukee 103; and Detroit 102,
Sacramento 88.
Francis was traded in June 2004 in a blockbuster deal that brought Tracy
McGrady to Houston. McGrady is out three weeks with a back injury, so the stage
belonged solely to Francis.
He was booed when he was introduced and almost every time he touched the
ball, but shook off the jeers to shoot 12-of-26 from the field.
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