Rockets Collapse in Toronto

Scoring 11 points in twelve minutes is not a good way to win a basketball game.

Sunday afternoon, the Houston Rockets (11 - 10) scored 11 points in the third quarter versus the Toronto Raptors. Those awful twelve minutes erased a 45 to 34 Rockets halftime lead.

Toronto (11 - 10) outscored the Rockets 28 to 11 in the period; and, continued attacking Houston in the fourth quarter to finish the game with a 93 to 80 Raptors' victory.

Rockets' guard Rafer Alston did not play in the game due to an injured game; so, Steve Francis started his first game of this season.

The office did not run smoothly in the second half at all. Houston's ball movement was slow; the players' were too close to each other which meant the Raptors' players could quickly double team the post and recover to their man on kick outs.

Yao Ming took only 10 shots -- in the entire game!

The Rockets' defense was just as inept. Despite shooting only 41.9% (36 for 86), the Raptors grabbed 18 offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive which seemed to zap Houston's heart in the second half.

Check out the box score.

The numbers are not pretty.