Cleveland Cavaliers (19-10) Hosting Houston Rockets (11-18)
Thursday, January 5, 2006
Time: 8.00pm
TV: TNT
Radio: WTAM 1100
Location: Quicken Loans Arena
Head Coaches
Mike Brown / Jeff Van Gundy
Probable Staters
Eric Snow / Rafer Alston
Damon Jones / David Wesley
LeBron James / Tracy McGrady
Drew Gooden / Juwan Howard
Zydrunas Ilgauskas / Dikembe Mutombo
Cleveland Cavaliers Bench
Mike Wilks/Luke Jackson/Ira Newble/Donyell Marshall/Alan Henderson
Houston Rockets
Luther Head/Moochie Norris/Ryan Bowen/Lonny Baxter/Stromile Swift
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Coming off their best offensive performance of the season, the Houston Rockets are hoping a run at the .500 mark and respectability is in their future as they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A five-game winning streak and the return of Tracy McGrady from back spasms from Jan. 3-15 had the Rockets -- at 9-12 -- believing they would overcome their dreadful 4-12 start.
Houston, though, has struggled due to the absence of injured All-Star center Yao Ming and had lost six of its last seven before Tuesday's 123-111 win at Washington.
"When the whole team is making shots, it feels great," Rockets forward Juwan Howard said. "We've noticed in the past, when we missed shots, guys have really gotten down on themselves. We're trying so hard. And we've lost some ballgames. It becomes frustrating."
The Rockets had averaged just 84 points and shot 37.1 percent from the field during their seven-game slump. But Tuesday's win produced a season high in points, field goals made (43), assists (29) and shooting percentage (55.1).
McGrady matched his season high with 38 points, and added six rebounds and five assists while Howard added a season-high 24 points. Dikembe Mutombo had a season-high 11 rebounds, and Rafer Alston contributed season highs of 17 points and 10 assists.
"We all felt a sense of urgency," Alston said. "Coach (Jeff Van Gundy) was talking about it, 'Play, have fun, but we have to start turning things around before this season gets out of hand.' "
The Cavaliers are coming off a costly 91-84 win Tuesday at Milwaukee in which LeBron James had 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his sixth career triple-double. James scored 17 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter as Cleveland won for the eighth time in its last nine games.
"I got in a comfort level, and I took over the game," James said. "My guys, you know, were with me."
The Cavaliers, though, will have to find someone else to score from the perimeter since guard Larry Hughes will miss at least six weeks with a broken finger. Hughes, a key free agent signing in the offseason, was second on the team in scoring at 16.2 points per game.
He started the first 28 games for the Cavaliers before missing Wednesday night's game at Milwaukee.
STANDINGS (through Jan. 4): Rockets - 5th place, 12 1/2 GB, Southwest Division. Cavaliers - 2nd place, 6 GB, Central Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Rockets - McGrady, 25 ppg and 5.2 apg; Yao, 9 rpg. Cavaliers - James, 30.4 ppg and 5.8 apg; Gooden, 8.4 rpg.
2004-05 SEASON SERIES: Rockets, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: March 24, 2005; Rockets, 99-80. At Houston, Bob Sura had 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and Yao Ming added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Rockets, who swept the two-game season series.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Rockets - 8-9 on the road; Cavaliers - 13-3 at home.
Karma's Keys
* Do not overplay Tracy McGrady. He has shooters surrounding him in Alston, Wesley and Head.
* McGrady will get his, its what we allow with their role players that is key.
* Houston are ravaged with injuries and any foul trouble exposes them.
* The Cavs need some offense from their guards. Jones has an easier night on defense matching with Wesley, so hopefully he'll refind some shooting touch.
* LeBron doesn't want to get caught up in a one on one dual with Tracy. We all know James is at his best when mixing his game up.
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