TORONTO, 18 April 2005 — Tracy McGrady scored 32 points and Mike James came off the bench to add 23 as the Rockets ended Denver’s 10-game winning streak with a convincing 115-87 victory over the Nuggets in Houston on Saturday.
Yao Ming had 13 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots for the Rockets (49-31), who won their fifth straight game.
Houston now leads Denver (48-32) by one game for the sixth seed in the Western Conference standings with just two left to play.
Dikembe Mutombo added 11 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks for the Rockets, who struggled early and trailed 18-4 at one point in the first quarter before running away with the game in the second half.
Denver was without starting center Marcus Camby, who sat out the game with a pulled right hamstring.
Kenyon Martin led Denver with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Carmelo Anthony managed 16 points.
In other games, Stephon Marbury had 19 points including the game-winning jumper with 1.7 second left as the New York Knicks edged the Bobcats 100-98 in Charlotte.
Jamal Crawford had 17 points for the Knicks, winners of three of four after a nine-game losing streak.
Kurt Thomas chipped in with 16 points and 11 rebounds for New York.
Keith Bogans led Charlotte with 15 points and Gerald Wallace had 14 points and 14 rebounds, but the Bobcats failed to win their third straight game, which would have been a franchise first.
In Atlanta, Chris Duhon scored 24 points as the Chicago Bulls rallied from a 15-point first half deficit to beat the lowly Atlanta Hawks 114-105.
Andres Nocioni added 19 points and Kirk Hinrich had 17 points and nine assists for the Bulls.
Tony Delk had 18 points for the Hawks, who have the league’s worst record at 12-67. Josh Childress had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Atlanta.
In San Antonio, Bruce Bowen scored 15 points as the Spurs easily defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 97-75.
Tim Duncan had 11 points and eight rebounds in just 22 minutes for San Antonio as he comes back from injury before the postseason. Pau Gasol had 17 points and six rebounds for Memphis.
In Milwaukee, Desmond Mason scored 22 points as the Bucks beat the Orlando Magic 113-103.
Joe Smith and Erick Strickland both added 15 points for the Bucks.
Dwight Howard had 19 points and 15 rebounds for Orlando, while Andre Barrett had 12 points and 12 assists and Brandon Hunter 13 points and 12 rebounds.
In Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire had 38 points and nine rebounds as the Suns recorded their 61st win of the season with a 116-98 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Joe Johnson added 22 points for Phoenix, who are one win away from tying a franchise record for victories in a season. Eddie House had 17 points for the Kings.
In Los Angeles, Bobby Simmons had 21 points as the Clippers stopped the New Orleans Hornets 94-89. Elton Brand chipped in with 20 for the Clippers. J.R. Smith and Dan Dickau had 17 points for the Hornets.
