Wizards Can't Keep the Pace

Head and Yao Lead the Way For Rockets: Rockets 92, Wizards 84

The Houston Rockets played with energy, rebounded at both ends of the floor and made open shots on key possessions. The Washington Wizards didn't.

That was the difference in Houston's 92-84 victory last night at Verizon Center.

Led by guard Luther Head, who scored a season-high 24 points, and center Yao Ming (21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks), the Rockets built a 12-point first-quarter lead and fought off the Wizards the rest of the way.

Antawn Jamison led the Wizards with 14 points and Brendan Haywood and Nick Young had 13 apiece, but the Wizards shot 41.1 percent and Houston held a 46-28 edge in rebounds and a 42-26 advantage in points in the lane.

The Wizards (17-16) lost for only the second time this season when six players scored in double figures.

Houston (18-17) has won three straight despite playing without guard Tracy McGrady, the team's leader in scoring and assists. McGrady, who has missed the last seven games, is expected to be out at least another week with strained tendons, tendinitis and a bone bruise in his left knee.

"Tonight, we were a step slow," said Jamison, who was unable to get many open shots against an active Rockets defense anchored by the 7-foot-6 Yao. "We were slow to get loose balls, we were bumping into one another, turning [over] the ball. It was just one of those [nights] for us."

One positive was that the Wizards received a nice contribution from their reserves. Led by rookie Young (13 points on 6-of-11 shooting) and veteran Roger Mason Jr. (12 points), Washington finished with a 31-17 edge in bench scoring.

One reason the Rockets are surviving without McGrady (the team is 5-2 in this recent stretch without him) is that Rafer Alston is playing some of the most consistent basketball of a career that has included stops with five teams. Alston was big again last night, finishing with 15 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds.

The Wizards drew as close as 80-73 with 7 minutes 20 seconds remaining when Andray Blatche cut back door, received a nice pass from Darius Songaila and converted a layup, but the next five possessions ended with an offensive foul by Young, a turnover by Young, a missed four-footer by Caron Butler, a missed layup by Butler and a missed jump shot by Songaila.

The Rockets took advantage and went ahead 86-73 on three-pointers by Alston and Head.

Head, whose previous season high was 22 points, connected on 4 of 6 three-point attempts. For most of the game, the Wizards struggled to match the Rockets' quickness.

"Houston is a good team," Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan said. "They've got speed, good perimeter shooting and a good force in the middle in Yao. That combination was not good for us tonight."

Alston, Head and Yao helped the Rockets establish the game's tempo early and once the Rockets used a 9-1 first-quarter run to build a 27-15 lead, the Wizards were trying to catch up the rest of the night.

However, that wasn't easy on a night when Butler was held to 12 points on 5-of-16 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists and four turnovers. Butler was hounded most of the night by Houston forward Shane Battier, but the Rockets also rotated well defensively and their rebounding was a strength all game.

"Caron is having an all-star year," said Battier, who finished with nine points, six rebounds and three blocks. "He's one of the most underrated players in the league. I just had to work against him and make him think about some things on the defensive side of the ball."

Wizards Notes: Entering last night's game, Butler was averaging 22.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.2 steals while shooting 50.4 percent. If he can keep up that pace, he would become the first NBA player since Michael Jordan in 1991-92 to average at least 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals while shooting at least 50 percent. . . .

The teams will meet again Feb. 26 at Houston. The Rockets have won three straight over the Wizards.