Playoff-bound Rockets batter Bucks

Mar 27, 2007, 3:35 GMT

Houston, TX - Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady scored 22 points each, and the Houston Rockets earned a 106-87 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Juwan Howard added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who have won six of seven and are into the postseason for the first time since the 2004-2005 season. Houston lost Chuck Hayes to a shoulder injury early on, and he did not return. Howard sustained a knee injury late in the game, and also did not come back.

Michael Redd scored 26 points for the Bucks, who have lost three straight overall, and 13 of 14 on the road. Charlie Bell scored 20 points, and Ruben Patterson added 16 points. Brian Skinner grabbed 11 rebounds for Milwaukee.

The Rockets opened a 13-point lead early in the third quarter after a Shane Battier three-pointer. The lead was 11 points late in the period before the Rockets ran off 12 straight points to blow the game wide open. The stretch was book-ended by two Luther Head treys, the second one boosting the Rockets lead to 81-58 with 28 seconds left in the third.

'This is a big win,' said Battier. 'You can't poo-poo a win. Especially at the end of the year.'

Milwaukee never threatened down the stretch as the Rockets coasted to the win.

Two McGrady threes fueled a 17-5 run to close the first quarter, and the Rockets took a 33-20 lead into the second.

The Rockets opened a 16-point lead on a Howard dunk with 7:22 left, but the Bucks were able to trim the lead to eight by the half. Milwaukee closed the half with a 14-6 run, and two straight baskets by Redd cut the deficit to 53-45 at the break.

'I think I did a good job of limiting Tracy's looks and I made it as difficult for him as I could,' said Bell. 'Guys were hitting threes and they have other players for them that can make it happen.'

Game Notes

Milwaukee fell to 9-27 on the road this season...Rockets have won five in a row in series...Milwaukee's Mo Williams was a late scratch with an upper respiratory infection.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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