SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 18 (Ticker) -- Tracy McGrady was unable to overcome the efforts of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.

Duncan scored 19 points and Parker added 17 to help stymie a strong second-half effort by McGrady as the San Antonio Spurs recorded an 86-80 triumph over the Houston Rockets.

NBA TV highlights from Rockets-Spurs: Play

San Antonio never trailed in beating Houston at home for the 16th straight time. The Rockets have not won in the Alamo City since April 20, 1997.

Duncan scored 14 points in the first half as the Spurs built a 49-36 advantage at the break. Robert Horry, who scored seven of his 16 points in the third quarter, helped San Antonio build a 20-point advantage in the early stages of the final period.

Hampered by the back problems that kept him out of three games this season, McGrady was 0-of-9 shooting in the first half. The superstar heated up in the second half when he scored 23 of his 27 points as the Rockets crept back in the game in the fourth quarter.

The author of a miraculous 13-point effort in the final 35 seconds in a comeback win against San Antonio last December, McGrady hit a pair of 3-pointers before completing a three-point play with 2:24 remaining, allowing the Rockets to close within 80-74.

However, San Antonio was able to fend off the challenge with a late free throws by Parker and Manu Ginobili, who scored 15 points.