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McGrady leads Rockets past Wolves; Yao had 13
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-16 11:38
MINNEAPOLIS - Tracy McGrady scored 25 points and made three consecutive
clutch plays down the stretch to lead the Houston Rockets to a 94-89 victory
over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
Chinese Center Yao Ming added 13 points with 7 rebounds.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Michael
Olowokandi, right, of Nigeria, passes under pressure from Houston Rockets
center Yao Ming, left rear, of China, and guard Rafer Alston (12) during
the first quarter in Minneapolis, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2005.
[AP] | McGrady, who went 13-for-13 at the
free-throw line, grabbed eight rebounds and had 13 points in the fourth quarter.
He hit a long jumper over Trenton Hassell with 2:35 remaining to put Houston up
for good, 85-84, after trailing most of the night.
After Wally Szczerbiak missed a shot on the other end, McGrady zipped a
pretty pass from the top of the key to give Rafer Alston — who had beaten Troy
Hudson on a backdoor cut — an easy layup with 2:04 left.
Then Hassell's risky crosscourt pass was stolen by McGrady on the following
possession to seal a much-needed victory for the Rockets, who had lost four of
their previous five games.
Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 25 points, and Wally Szczerbiak scored 12
points on 5-for-14 shooting.
McGrady returned from a bout with back spasms to score 30 of his 35 points in
the second half of a win at New Jersey on Saturday. He was held to 14 points the
next night in a 20-point loss at Boston.
The first half wasn't so smooth for McGrady, who shot only 1-for-6 and had
four turnovers over the first 24 minutes. But he came through when his team
needed him most.
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