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The much-hyped matchup between the Southwest Division rivals turned out to be more of a dud. The Spurs had the lead for nearly the entire game and led by as many as 25 points.
Luis Scola scored a season-high 24 points for the Rockets, and Tracy McGrady and Rafer Alston each had 13 points after shooting a combined 9-of-38.
After two wins against sub-.500 teams that were closer than the Spurs would have liked, San Antonio had no problem with the Yao Ming-less Rockets.
Houston came into San Antonio having won two in a row and 29 of its last 33 games
-- highlighted by their historic 22-game streak.
But they were no match for the Spurs on Sunday. The Rockets never led after Parker tied it at 9 early in the first quarter.
McGrady was just 3-of-13 in the first half -- all of his baskets came on dunks. Alston wasn't much better. He went 3-for-11.
The Spurs, meanwhile, were shooting better than 64 percent from the field and set a season high for points in a first half.
Finley's jumper that almost rattled out put San Antonio up 58-42 with just over 2 minutes left in the half. Parker and Finley combined for 32 points in the first half and shot a combined 13-of-15 from the field.
San Antonio had a 66-48 lead at the break.
McGrady hit just two jumpers in the third quarter and his teammates, except for Scola, weren't picking enough of the slack to make a difference. Houston trailed 85-65 after three quarters.
Notes: The Rockets play six of their last nine games on the road. ... The Spurs traded Scola's rights to the Rockets in July and Houston bought out Scola's contract with his Spanish team, Tau Ceramica. Scola was averaging 9.7 points and 6.1 rebounds before Sunday's game. ... Rockets G Bobby Jackson got a flagrant foul with 4:38 to go in the fourth as Spurs C-F Kurt Thomas drove the lane. ... Houston and San Antonio split the four-game season series.
[Associated
Press; By ELIZABETH WHITE]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights
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