GAME: Chicago Bulls (23-22) at Houston Rockets (28-21).
TIME: Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. EST.
Tracy McGrady is doing much more than just piling up points for the Houston
Rockets. He's helping them win.
Coming off his best week as a Rocket, the league's two-time reigning scoring
champion will try to help Houston to its season-high fifth straight victory as
it hosts the resurgent Chicago Bulls at the Toyota Center.
Oddsmakers list the Rockets as 6-point favorites. The total has been set at 191.
McGrady, who became the league's premier scorer during his final two seasons
with Orlando, has finally adjusted to life with his new team after coming to
Houston in the blockbuster offseason deal that sent All-Star guard Steve
Francis to the Magic.
The 6-foot-8 swingman averaged 27.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists
over four games to earn Western Conference player of the week honors Monday,
helping Houston to a perfect 4-0 mark in the process.
On Sunday, McGrady had 21 points and seven assists as the Rockets held off
the Los Angeles Lakers 103-102 for their eighth victory in 10 games overall.
''I hate games like that,'' said McGrady after the Rockets blew a 16-point,
fourth-quarter lead before pulling out the win. ''It was a big win for us, but,
like I said, I don't like these types of games.''
Bob Sura had 19 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and five steals for
Houston, which last won four in a row from Jan. 9-15.
The surprising Bulls have already matched last season's win total,
accomplishing the feat with Tuesday's 107-100 victory over the Dallas
Mavericks.
Rookie Luol Deng had 30 points and 11 rebounds for Chicago, which climbed
above .500 this late in the year for the first time since Michael Jordan's
final season with the team in 1997-98.
Eddy Curry added 23 points for the Bulls, who snapped a three-game losing
streak overall and a 13-game skid against Dallas.
''This keeps our confidence high heading into the All-Star break,'' said
Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich.
STANDINGS: Bulls - 3rd place, 4 GB, Central Division. Rockets - 3rd place
(tied), 11 GB, Southwest Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Bulls - F Deng, F Othella Harrington, C Curry, G Chris
Duhon, G Hinrich. Rockets - F McGrady, F Juwan Howard, C Yao Ming, G David
Wesley, G Sura.
TEAM LEADERS: Bulls - Hinrich, 15.8 ppg and 7 apg; Tyson Chandler, 8.9 rpg.
Rockets - McGrady, 25.8 ppg and 5.7 apg; Yao, 8.5 rpg.
2003-04 SEASON SERIES: Rockets, 2-0.
LAST MEETING: Feb. 6, 2004; Rockets, 82-20. At Houston, Jimmy Jackson hit a
21-footer as time expired, helping the Rockets end a season-high four-game
losing streak and complete a season series sweep of the Bulls. Curry led
Chicago with 21 points.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Bulls - 8-12 on the road; Rockets - 15-10 at home.
INJURIES: Bulls - F-C Antonio Davis (back); G Frank Williams (hamstring).
Rockets - F Maurice Taylor (flu); G Reece Gaines (knee); G Charlie Ward (knee).