Rockets Top Suns in Desert

The Houston Rockets defeated the Phoenix Suns 100 to 94 tonight in Arizona. Steve Francis made two key plays (one on offense and one on defense) in the final minute of the ball game. Francis scored a driving lay-up then he knocked the ball away from Suns' big man Amare Stoudemire as Stoudemire tried to score in the paint.

Question: Rick Adelman, What took you so long to give Steve some minutes on the floor?

Yao Ming finished the game with 31 points and 13 rebounds.

Francis scored nine points and dropped seven dimes.

Tracy McGrady added 18 points; eight rebounds; and six assists; however, since T-Mac struggled from the foul line in tonight's game (3 for 8), he stopped attacking the basket and settled for jump shots in the second half -- which he missed.

Good win for the Rockets. Three straight W's to improve to 9 and 7.

Warriors tomorrow night in Oakland. 9:30 tip.