Rockets Extend Franchise-Record Winning Streak to 19

Houston 91, New Jersey 73

HOUSTON, March 10 (AP) -- Tracy McGrady pulled the towel over his shoulders, leaned back in his seat on the bench and smiled. The Houston Rockets' 19th consecutive victory was a laugher.

McGrady scored 19 points in less than three quarters and the Rockets routed cold-shooting New Jersey 91-73 on Monday night to match the third-longest winning streak in NBA history.

Most importantly, the Rockets closed within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs for the top seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers play in Houston on Sunday, but the hype for that showdown can wait.

Houston can match the second-longest victory streak in NBA history with a win in Atlanta on Wednesday night. The Milwaukee Bucks won 20 in a row during the 1970-71 season.

The Rockets held the Nets to 30 percent shooting (24-of-79) to match the league's longest winning streak since the 1999-2000 Lakers won 19 in a row on their way to the first of three straight championships with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

Rafer Alston and Luis Scola had 12 points apiece for the Rockets, who've won 23 of their last 24 games and 28 of their last 31. Houston also improved to 7-0 since Yao Ming's season-ending foot injury.

McGrady's only 3-pointer came in the final minute of the third quarter put Houston up 70-45. He sat out the entire fourth quarter, joking and cheering with Dikembe Mutombo.

Vince Carter scored 13 and Richard Jefferson had 12 for the Nets, who've lost six in a row and nine of their last 12. The Nets shot 9-for-43 (21 percent) in the first half.

New Jersey missed 11 of its first 13 shots and the Rockets built an early seven-point lead. Smothered by Jefferson early, McGrady missed his first three shots.

Sharpshooting Steve Novak came off the bench and hit a 3-pointer and McGrady sank two free throws to give Houston a 22-15 lead after one quarter. Novak finished with 11.

McGrady continued to struggle early in the second quarter. He couldn't handle an alley-oop pass from Bobby Jackson, then bounced a dribble off his foot after a steal, ruining a chance for a breakaway dunk.

After McGrady went to the bench three minutes into the second quarter, Novak swished another 3-pointer and Jackson hit a tough fadeaway to start a 19-5 run that Houston made without its seven-time All-Star.

McGrady returned after a long rest and got his first basket on a drive with 1:46 left in the half. Shane Battier swished a 3-pointer from the corner to give Houston a 46-28 lead at the break.

McGrady hit a jumper and Battier swished another 3-pointer in the first minute of the third quarter as the lead swelled over 20. Mutombo blocked a putback try by Carter and gave an emphatic wag of his finger to the crowd.

Jefferson drove for a dunk over Mutombo and wagged his finger back at Mutombo, but referee Joe Crawford gave Jefferson a technical foul. Jefferson pleaded about the apparent double standard to Crawford to no avail.

The Nets shot better in the third quarter and made a mild rally, cutting the deficit to 14. McGrady hit a running jumper and his only 3-pointer in the final two minutes of the third quarter before calling it a night.

Notes: The Rockets failed to reach 100 points for just the second time in 10 games. ... New Jersey's 28 first-half points and 47 points after three quarters were season lows. The Nets' 28 first-half points were also a season low for a Rockets opponent. ... Rockets rookie F Carl Landry sat out for the second straight game with a bruised right knee.