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McGrady leads Rockets past Cavaliers with 34 points
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-06 14:19
Guarded primarily by James, McGrady scored his 23 on 18 shots in the opening
half that ended with Cavs fans grumbling about the club's lack of defense.
McGrady scored 10 points on jumpers in the final 4:59 as the Rockets closed with
a 15-2 run to take a 49-35 lead.
Jackson Helps Pacers Defeat
Warriors 99-89
OAKLAND, Calif. - Stephen Jackson had 27 points,
five rebounds and three assists and the Indiana Pacers jumped to a quick lead
they nearly relinquished in the waning moments of a 99-89 victory over the
Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.
Derek Fisher made two free
throws with 1:46 left to get Golden State within 91-89, before Jackson scored
and was fouled on the other end but missed a free throw.
Austin Croshere added 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals
for the Pacers, who bounced back from a 106-86 loss at Denver a night earlier
that started their four-game West Coast swing.
Beat-up Indiana had lost five of six, but played like a healthy team with a
winning streak, opening up a 20-point lead after the first quarter and holding a
comfortable cushion until the final minutes. Fred Jones added 11 points for the
Pacers before fouling out with 4:11 left.
Baron Davis had 16 points, seven assists and seven rebounds and rookie Ike
Diogu added 16 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for his first double-double.
Mike Dunleavy had 19 points, six rebounds and four assists for Golden State,
which looked sluggish and uninspired for most of the night after returning from
a three-game road trip. Richardson had 17 points.
Dunleavy hit a 3 with 7:19 to go to get Golden State within six, but the
Warriors didn't get closer until two free throws by Richardson at 2:21 to make
it 91-87.
Pacers center and leading scorer Jermaine O'Neal arrived in the second
quarter to rejoin the team, but he didn't play for the third straight game
because of pneumonia and a sore back. He sat on the bench in street clothes.
Jamaal Tinsley missed his fourth straight game for Indiana, which improved to
7-9 on the road.
Every time the Warriors threatened, the Pacers had an answer.
Diogu scored back-to-back baskets to pull the Warriors within 62-52 with 7:05
remaining in the third, then had a big block on the other end.
Golden State won three straight on the heels of a six-game losing streak
before Tuesday's 104-94 defeat at Memphis. The Warriors lost two players to
injury in this game: Troy Murphy and Calbert Cheaney.
Murphy, Golden State's top rebounder and third-leading scorer, sprained his
left ankle with 4:11 left in the third period and didn't return. He had eight
points and five rebounds in 27 minutes.
Murphy's 3 with 5:54 left in the second quarter pulled Golden State within
40-28, but Indiana answered with five straight points and a 16-11 run to end the
half for a 56-41 lead.
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