[img]http://www.sportsteams.com/acbnet/stores/1/images/NBA/LOGOS/PortlandTrailblazers.jpg[/img]@[img]http://www.sportsteams.com/acbnet/stores/1/images/NBA/LOGOS/HoustonRockets.jpg[/img]

When: Friday, 1 - 26 - 07, 8 : 30 p.m. ET

[url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2007012610]Yahoo Preview[/url]: After ending a three-game losing streak, the Houston Rockets are now hoping to string some wins together.

Five straight home games against teams with losing records could help them accomplish that goal.

Houston tries to avoid a third consecutive home loss Friday when it faces the Portland Trail Blazers for the second time this season.

The Rockets (26-16) ended a three-game overall losing skid Wednesday with a 90-85 victory in a very unlikely place - San Antonio.

Tracy McGrady scored 37 points on 14-of-24 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds for Houston, which had lost 17 of its last 18 road matchups with the Spurs.

However, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy wasn't pleased his team committed 21 turnovers, which led to 19 San Antonio points.

"It's not going to be perfect," he said. "It's going to be poise. We had issues with turnovers, but we made enough plays to win."

No Western Conference team has played fewer home games than the Rockets, who are 13-5 at the Toyota Center. Each of the five opponents on their upcoming homestand - Portland, Philadelphia, Seattle, New Orleans and Minnesota - are currently under .500.

"This is definitely a chance for us to do some things in terms of getting ourselves right again and getting some wins," forward Juwan Howard said.

Despite early-season speculation that Yao Ming had surpassed McGrady as the top player on the team, the Rockets have had a much easier timer winning without their center than when McGrady has been out of the lineup.

The Rockets have won 10 of 15 games since Yao broke a bone under his right knee, but are 2-6 in the eight games McGrady has missed due to back spasms.

Portland (18-25) has been an improved team of late, winning three of four games and four of its last six, including Wednesday's 101-98 victory over Minnesota. Zach Randolph had 22 points, including a pair of free throws with 6.3 seconds left, and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Trail Blazers.

Randolph remains Portland's No. 1 scoring option, but coach Nate McMillan has shown plenty of confidence in rookie Brandon Roy, who hit two free throws with 12.3 seconds to play to give the Blazers a 99-98 lead.

Roy said he was bothered by back spasms the whole game, but insisted on playing.

"What's impressive to me now is in close games, we're making plays," McMillan said. "Down the stretch and in overtime we went to Brandon a lot and spread the floor, so see if he could make something happen.

"We would normally go to Zach but they were closing up on Zach so we figured Brandon could get into the paint and make some plays."

Against the visiting Rockets on Dec. 20, Roy hit a key shot with 19 seconds left to preserve the Blazers' 89-87 victory.

Portland has won two straight in the series after losing the previous nine meetings. Houston, though, is 5-0 at home against the Blazers since an 81-66 loss on April 8, 2003.

Portland Probable Starting Lineups:

Forward 5 Ime Udoka 6-5 220
Forward 50 Zach Randolph 6-9 258
Center 10 Joel Przybilla 7-1 255
Guard 7 Brandon Roy 6-6 229
Guard 1 Jarrett Jack 6-3 197

[color=red]Houston[/color] Probable Starting Lineup:
[color=red]Dikembe Mutumbo
Juwan Howard
T - Mac
Shane Battier
Alston[/color]

Good job as always MingDynasty11. Now we expect a Rox victory!

Rox looking pretty good with a quick 7 - 2 lead. We better win to prove we are consistent and our W against the Spurs was not a fluke.

It just amazes me that no one is interested in this game since Yao is not playing. I know that this site is dedicated as a Yao Ming fan site, but you do not honor him by not supporting his team when he is injured!

I like how Bonzi is getting minutes right off the bat. I think integrating him is still key, as he is the only real proven threat besides Head at the 2/3 on the team from an offensive sense (sans Mac). Plus he will be the most valuable in the playoffs.

wow rafer sucks again. this is getting old. He is such a poor finisher.

[quote="ant0328"]wow rafer sucks again. this is getting old. He is such a poor finisher.

Is this on any of the Chinese channels?

Box score says Tmac only played 9 mins, he's not injured is he ?

[quote="sonicbun"]Box score says Tmac only played 9 mins, he's not injured is he ?