OK there was a link to this on the frontpage, however since you have to register to read it - and it has not been posted in the BBS; I thought it was worth the post http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12561216p-13416311c.html Rockets simply can't miss Houston shoots 53.1 percent from the field for a rare win at Arco Arena. By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer Published 2:15 am PST Monday, March 14, 2005 Midway through the second quarter Sunday afternoon, the only question was whether the Houston Rockets were going to give away the game. They didn't and coasted to their fourth consecutive victory, a 111-96 decision over the Kings before a national television audience and another Arco Arena sellout crowd of 17,317. The Kings' three-game winning streak ended in a blaze of jump shots: their misses and Houston's makes. For the most part, the Rockets' marksmanship didn't even come from high-scoring swingman Tracy McGrady or center Yao Ming. The Kings (39-25) were beaten down by David Wesley (21 points), Mike James (20) former Sacramento bench mobber Jon Barry (12). The threesome, all of whom joined the team since Dec. 23, combined to make 20 of 26 field-goal attempts overall, including 7 of 10 three-point attempts, and score 53 points. The Rockets (37-25) shot 53.1 percent from the field (43 of 81) and became the fourth opponent in six games to shoot better than 50 percent against the Kings. Houston, which had not won at Arco since March 28, 1999, a span of 11 games, has reshaped its backcourt during the course of the season, and is much better. Kings guard Cuttino Mobley was part of that backcourt last season before coming to Sacramento after a brief Orlando stopover. "It seemed like they were making every shot," Mobley (20 points) said of the Rockets, who have beaten Seattle, Phoenix and Sacramento during the first three games of their four-game road trip. They visit Golden State tonight. "They've got some good shooters to go around two great playmakers (McGrady - who had a game-high 22 points - and Yao, who scored 17)." This isn't the old TV show "The Outer Limits." There is nothing wrong with your television set. If it seems as if quite a few teams feature a big group of good shooters, it is because that often happens when teams play the Kings. Sacramento begins the game ineffectively on defense and allows teams to get off to good shooting starts. That fosters heightened confidence. The Rockets shot 25 of 44 (56.8 percent) in the first half, including 5 of 10 from three-point range, and 11 of 12 from the free-throw line. The Rockets led by as many as 18 (65-47) in the second quarter. They were up 66-52 at halftime. "Sixty-six points is a lot of points," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. Though the Rockets clearly are a more potent team offensively since acquiring Wesley, James and Barry, a Houston team had not scored 60 points in a first half since 2001. So the Kings were left attempting a nearly miraculous comeback on a day when guards Mobley and Mike Bibby couldn't consistently make wide-open shots. The starting backcourt was a combined 13 of 40 from the field (5 of 19 from three-point range). Bibby, who had been a walking miracle in the past two games, was 1 of 8 from long-distance and had six turnovers with his game-high 12 assists. "You've got to take the good with the bad," he said after scoring 12 points. Peja Stojakovic had 21 points on 5-of-10 shooting. The Kings got within 74-69 in the third with 5 minutes left, but the Rockets answered with a 7-0 run. Houston led by as many as 89-75 late in the third, but the Kings again whittled the lead to 101-95 with 3:45 left in the fourth. On their next possession, the Rockets put the game away on an offensive rebound and two Yao free throws. That started a 10-1 game-ending run. Before Houston shot 43.8 percent in the fourth, the Kings had allowed their Friday night's opponents - the Clippers - and the Rockets to combine for 50 percent shooting in seven straight quarters. Sacramento's five-game homestand ends Tuesday night against the Orlando Magic. Rockets guard Tracy McGrady sails past Kenny Thomas of the Kings for two of his 22 points during Houston's 111-96 victory, their first at Arco Arena since March 1999. Sacramento Bee/José Luis Villegas
