HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Perhaps hung over from the Far East
preseason tour, the Houston Rockets have needed a few games to
get going. With two straight wins under their belt, they can
get above .500 with a triumph over the winless Memphis Grizzlies
on Tuesday at the Toyota Center.
Following a preseason trip to China for a pair of exhibition
games, the Rockets opened the regular season with two lethargic
losses. Houston got its first victory of the season vs. the
Grizzlies on Friday at Memphis. In the 89-81 triumph, Tracy
McGrady broke out for 30 points and a game-high nine assists.
In the Rockets' home opener the next day, McGrady scored 23 and
Yao Ming produced 33 as the two stars began to showcase their
overwhelming talent. The Rockets got a combined 25 rebounds
from the pair in a 104-101 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Tuesday's meeting against the Grizzlies is the second of four
straight for Houston at the Toyota Center.
Memphis has lost by an average of nearly 15 points a game thus
far, including a 112-88 rout at the hands of the Dallas
Mavericks on Saturday. In that loss, the Grizzlies were
outrebounded, 53-36, and shot just 37.6 percent from the floor.
Overall, Memphis has averaged just 86.7 points per game - 26th
in the league - with just three players in double figures. Pau
Gasol is the only member of the Grizzlies to shoot 50 percent
from the field for the season.
The Rockets swept the season series in 2003-04 and has won five
straight vs. Memphis, including nine straight at home.




