Houston (12-23) at Atlanta (9-26) 2:00 pm EST
ATLANTA (Ticker) - Most experts predicted that the Atlanta Hawks
would languish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference
standings this season. However, few could have known that the
Houston Rockets would stumble to such an awful start.
Both teams look to snap losing streaks when they meet at Philips
Arena on Monday.
The Hawks stumbled in overtime on Saturday to drop their fourth
straight contest, a 114-106 loss to the Washington Wizards.
Joe Johnson scored 23 points and dished out 11 assists and Josh
Childress added 17 and 12 rebounds off the bench, but Atlanta
managed just seven points in the extra session.
The Rockets, whom many believed would challenge the San Antonio
Spurs in the Western Conference, have been plagued by injuries
to key players all season.
Houston dropped an 86-80 decision to the New Orleans Hornets on
Saturday, its fifth straight defeat.
Juwan Howard collected 22 points and 10 rebounds and rookie
Luther Head and David Wesley scored 18 points apiece for the
Rockets, who played without injured starters Yao Ming, Tracy
McGrady and Stromile Swift.
The Rockets enter Monday's contest 15 games behind the Spurs in
the Southwest Division standings.





