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Rockets keep rolling on road with win over Wolves
Houston 92, Minnesota 86
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Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer
MINNEAPOLIS -- During the waning moments of the fourth quarter, Tracy McGrady could feel the Minnesota Timberwolves making a last-minute surge.
He decided to do something about it.
"I figured it was time for me to make a big play," McGrady said.
He did -- again.
Behind another late flourish from their do-everything shooting guard, the Rockets continued their winning ways away from home and pulled away from the Timberwolves for a thrilling 92-86 victory Friday night at the Target Center.
McGrady delivered for the Rockets in the fourth quarter as he nailed a clutch three-pointer with 30.8 seconds remaining to seal Houston's win. The shot capped off a 26-point effort for the Rockets' seven-time All-Star.
McGrady's clutch buckets, of course, aren't exactly anything new. During his four seasons with the Rockets, the star has been Houston's unofficial closer.
"He hit some big shots down the stretch," Rockets forward Shane Battier said. "He's got a short memory. You have to have that to be a top guy in this league."
McGrady's finish helped the Rockets (28-20) maintain their roll away from home.
Since dropping a tight game in Boston on Jan. 2, the Rockets have inched their way back into the Western Conference playoff picture by reeling off eight consecutive road wins.
The streak, which is the team's longest since the 1996-97 season, matches the second longest road winning streak in franchise history. Houston needs one more road win to equal its most wins in a row away from home.
Rafer Alston couldn't explain why the Rockets have been on a such a solid roll away from Toyota Center. He's just glad they are.
"I wish I could put my finger on it," Alston said. "But the road has phenomenal for us. Whenever you win eight straight on the road, it doesn't matter if you're playing the best teams or the worst teams. It's impressive. Road wins are key to your postseason push."
The Rockets had to sweat out their latest.
Despite coming into the game with the second worst record in the NBA, the Timberwolves had been playing well of late by winning five of their past seven games. Minnesota carried that momentum into Monday's action, hanging with the Rockets from start to finish.
Minnesota forward Al Jefferson, a notable ommission from the Western Conference All-Star team, did most of the damage. With Yao Ming and Chuck Hayes guarding him over different stretches, Jefferson managed to score 33 points and rip down 16 rebounds. He made 14-of-26 shots.
Though the Rockets appeared to be pulling away from the Wolves with an 80-71 advantage in the final six minutes, Jefferson almost took the game away from the Rockets.
He ignited a 15-5 spurt by sinking a 6-footer over Yao. Less than two minutes later, Jefferson canned a 16-footer and then tipped in a miss to put Minnesota ahead 86-85 with 1:38 remaining on the clock.
"I'm very impressed with his strength," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "He's got a soft touch and great hands. He's relentless going to the boards."
Luckily, the Rockets had answer for Jefferson.
That would be McGrady.
The Rockets star needed less than a minute to transform what looked like a dire situation into a Houston win. He first nailed a 17-footer over Rashad McCants that allowed Houston to regain the lead at 87-86.
With 30.8 seconds remaining, McGrady then buried the Wolves by sinking a three-pointer that proved too much for Minnesota to overcome.
He was just putting in another night at the office.
"I don't even remember who was guarding me down the stretch," McGrady said. "I was just so locked in that it doesn't matter."
