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Landry, Rockets hold off Warriors' late rally
Houston 109, Golden State 106
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Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer
OAKLAND -- During the early stages of Friday night's game against the Golden
State Warriors, Rockets forward Carl Landry couldn't stop worrying about his sore
right knee.
The rookie had been anxiously waiting for almost two weeks to return after
missing the previous seven games.
But now that he was finally cleared to play, Landry wasn't so sure that he was
ready.
"I was wondering at times if I was going to hurt myself or if I was going to be
able to play (Saturday against Phoenix)," Landry said. "I was thinking a lot out
there. But I just had to go out there and play. I had to stop worrying about
it."
He did.
The rookie overcame his initial concerns about his sore knee and helped the
Rockets hold off a furious comeback from the Golden State Warriors to hang on for
a thrilling 109-106 triumph Friday night at Oracle Arena.
The win snapped the Rockets' two-game skid and lifted them back into a share of
second place in the Western Conference with the New Orleans Hornets.
Landry scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and sank the game-clinching free
throw with 6.2 seconds remaining to cap off an impressive performance in his
first game since March 8. Despite being limited to 18 minutes, the rookie scored
17 points and collected eight rebounds.
Welcome back, Carl.
"It's a little bit of a difference when Carl plays," Rockets coach Rick Adelman
said. "Of all our big guys, he finishes at the basket. That's why it was so great
getting him back."
Landry's return helped jump-start an offense that had been struggling to generate
much of anything over the past two games.
With the rookie finishing inside and Tracy McGrady getting more open looks from
the elbow, the Rockets knocked down 46.2 percent of their shots.
Six players finished in double figures as the Rockets made up for their recent
second-half woes with a 34-point fourth quarter. The finishing kick was nine
points better than their second-half effort against the Hornets on Wednesday
night.
McGrady, who had struggled to get anything going after being doubled in the two
previous games, set the pace with 26 points and eight assists.
"We had a lot more cutting on the weakside and better movement," McGrady said. "I
played more on the elbow so they couldn't lock in on me because the last couple
of games teams have been doubling and trying to get the ball out of my hand. It
worked to our advantage."
Good thing, too.
Even with the improved ball movement and offense, the Rockets needed every basket
they could get in holding off the league's highest scoring team.
With the Rockets seizing a 95-87 advantage with 4:25 remaining, Golden State made
their typical fourth-quarter run. Mickael Pietrus threw in a three-pointer from
the right corner and Monta Ellis and Baron Davis finished back-to-back drives to
cap off a 7-0 burst. Seconds late, Davis nailed a gutsy three with Bobby Jackson
in his face. Just like that, the Warriors had knotted the game.
Ultimately, the Rockets hung on thanks to a clutch bucket by Jackson and Landry's
play.
Jackson started the closing run by sinking a off-balance three-pointer in which
he initially pump-faked the shot in mid-air before releasing it. The shot put the
Rockets in the lead for good at 100-97.
"I just threw it up there and prayed that it went in," Jackson said.
Landry took care of the rest.
After Andris Biedrins pulled the Warriors back within 100-99, Landry threw down a
baseline dunk on a dish from McGrady.
Less than a minute later, Landry was at the free-throw line with a chance to seal
Houston's fate with the Rockets leading 106-103.
He missed the first free throw before putting the Warriors away with the
second.
"That was probably the biggest free throw I've shot in my career," Landry said.
"I missed the first one and guys like (Stephen) Jackson were yelling, 'Gimme two
misses, rook.' I'm hearing that in the back of my mind, but I took my time and
knocked it down."
The swished free throw capped off what turned out to be a happy return for Landry
-- even if he wasn't so confident about his knee early in the game.
"I felt good," Landry said. "I have to get used to playing with a little brace on
my knee. But it felt good."
