Houston Roundball Review Archive: January 2007 McGrady's 44 Leads Rockets to Win over Jazz

Friday, January 5, 2007

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- I'm sure the Tracy McGrady "haters" will find fault with his 44-point performance tonight; but, I have nothing but positives to say about T-Mac.

He led the Rockets (21-12) to a very solid 100 to 86 win over the Utah Jazz (23-10) tonight at Toyota Center before an announced sell-out crowd of 18,059 fans.

As usual, Rafer Alston took the first shot of the game; and, he swished a three-point shot which seem to set the tempo for the Rockets the rest of the game.

McGrady followed with two free throws and two consecutive three-point shots to give the Rockets a quick 11 - 0 lead barely two minutes into the ball game.

Deron Williams ended Utah's scoring drought with a three-pointer of his own; but, McGrady followed a Dikembe Mutombo tip-in with a driving lay-up and his third three-point shot to push Houston's lead to 18 to 3 with 8:41 left in the first quarter.

McGrady finished the first quarter with 19 points on 6 for 10 shooting (3 for 5 on threes and 2 for 2 on free throws).

Houston led 29 to 19 at the end of the first period.

T-Mac: "...tough to double..."

Williams banked in a thirty-three foot shot at the halftime buzzer to trim Houston's lead to 54 to 45.

McGrady finished the first half with 27 points.

Williams and Carlos Boozer scored 10 points each for Utah.

Rookie swingman Ronnie Brewer converted a three-point play to pull Utah within six points to start the third quarter; however, Houston scored nine consecutive points to increase the lead to 63 to 48 at the 8:55 mark of the third quarter.

The lead would get as large as 20 points during the third; however, Utah finished the quarter with a 17 to 9 run to end the quarter trailing the Rockets by 12 points (82 to 70).

The fourth quarter went back and forth as each team traded baskets.

Utah never pulled closer than 10 points during the period.

Mutombo finished the game with a season-high 19 rebounds.

McGrady's 44 points were a season-high. The 44 points are McGrady's first 40-point game since last season at Milwaukee on January 23, 2006.

He shot 14 for 31 from the field (3 for 10 on threes and 13 for 16 from the foul line).

The Rockets never trailed in tonight's game which marked the seventh time this season Houston has not trailed once in a game.

Tonight's win for the Rockets is their fifth straight victory which sets their longest winning streak thus far season.

Boozer finished the game with 15 points and 17 rebounds tonight.

He now has 25 double-doubles this season ranking him second in the NBA behind Minnesota's Kevin Garnett (27).

After the game, JVG: "...everybody's good in this league..."

The Rockets start a two game road trip this Sunday, January 7, versus Minnesota. Tip-off is set for 2:30 pm.

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