Rockets lose game 2 to Toronto 83-73

From the Houston Chronicle

SALT LAKE CITY -- For the second straight game, the Rockets struggled in the Rocky Mountain Revue, enduring an 83-73 loss to Toronto on Sunday night at Salt Lake Community College.

But this one was different than their 18-point loss to Dallas the night before, where poor shooting and turnovers were the big killers.

This time it was rebounding and poor defense that wound up costing the Rockets. Toronto, with a frontline that featured 7-3 Aleksander Radojevic, 7-0 Paul Grant, 6-10 Kornel David, 6-10 Tom Wideman and 6-10 John Thomas, creamed the Rockets 45-31 on the boards.

And while the Rockets are also able to throw some size on the floor (7-0 Jason Collier, 6-11 Axel Dench, 6-11 Dan Langhi, 6-10 Mark Pope and 6-10 Lorenzo Johnson), most of their big men are more comfortable on the perimeter than toiling under the basket.

"Yeah, I thought they out-physicaled us," said Rockets assistant Jim Boylen, who is coaching the Revue team. "I thought they (beat us up), and then when we tried to knock them back, it was a foul every time. But they're a big team -- a very big team.

"I thought we played better tonight (than Saturday's game), but not quite good enough. I think we're a better shooting team than 42 percent (30 of 71 vs. Toronto), but when you lose on the boards by 14, it's hard to win."

Not helping the Rockets' cause was the fact that Bryce Drew sat out the game with a strained back.

It took less than five minutes for the Rockets to fall behind by double digits, and they trailed 18-6 when Willie Burton dropped in an 18-foot jumper with 4:44 left in the first period.

The Raptors led 52-37 at halftime, helped greatly by their rebounding. Grant, a journeyman center, had seven boards at the half, just one fewer than the Rockets managed as a team, one reason Toronto held a 23-8 advantage on the boards.

But Collier, who finished with six points and four rebounds, showed some flashes in the second half. After missing three days of mini-camp with a back strain, Collier is just now getting his legs under him at the Revue.

"Yeah, my back's been bothering me a little bit, but I don't want to use that as an excuse," said Collier, who made three of his nine shots. "I just don't have as much lift in my shot because I can't jump as well as I normally can. It'll come."

Moochie Norris led the Rockets with 17 points, and Kenny Thomas added 16. The Raptors were led by David, who had 15 points. Burton and Taylor added 11 points, and Jeff Sheppard and Morris Peterson had 10 each.

In Sunday's first game, Denver pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat Vancouver 81-70. The Grizzlies were led by former Port Arthur Lincoln star Stephen Jackson, who scored a game-high 25 points.

"I just came in from overseas, where I was playing in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic," said Jackson, a 6-8 swingman. "(Vancouver guard) Mike Bibby is a good friend of mine, and I tried out (for the Grizzlies) last year and had a pretty good tryout and came close to making the team, so they asked me back for another look."

Former University of Houston guard Gee Gervin, also with the Grizzlies, scored eight points while Cy Falls and University of Texas ex Gabe Muoneke went scoreless in three minutes backing up Stromile Swift, the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft by Vancouver.

"I was a late addition to (Vancouver's) roster," said Gervin, who played under the watchful eye of his father, NBA Hall of Famer George. "Guys are learning that I can score, so I'm going to draw a lot of (defensive) attention (at point guard), which opens up things for my big men. I'm just coming out here and trying to show everyone that I can be a point."

Dallas whipped Chicago 92-69 in the second game, with former SMU guard Jemeil Rich doing much of the damage for the Mavericks. Rich had 18 of of his 29 points in the first half, consistently blowing by Chicago draftees A.J. Guyton and Khalid El-Amin.

Former Strake Jesuit center Jake Voskuhl, a second-round pick by Chicago, is recovering from foot surgery and is not with the Bulls.



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And do not forget the Mooch scoring 17 Points leading the Rockets.

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[This message has been edited by COMPAQ CENTER (edited July 23, 2000).]