McGrady fires Rockets to 12th win in a row

Houston trounce Chicago Bulls 110-97

HOUSTON: The Houston Rockets roared to their 12th consecutive victory when they beat the Chicago Bulls 110-97 on Sunday.

Tracy McGrady scored 24 points and had eight assists to lead seven Rockets who reached double figures. Houston used a 11-3 third-quarter run to take control of the game. Then newly-acquired Bobby Jackson scored five consecutive Houston points in the fourth quarter to build another 10-point lead after Chicago had come within seven.

“Terrific second half for us,” Rockets coach Rick Adelman told reporters. “We took it up a notch, responded and took control of the game.”

Adelman was especially happy with the play of Jackson. “He really got after it defensively, so I was really pleased with the way he fit in,” he said.

Luis Scola added 17 points, Jackson had 14, Rafer Alston 13 and Yao Ming 12 for the Rockets. “I felt like I wasn’t active today,” Yao told reporters.

Kobe Bryant’s third-quarter ejection did not slow the Los Angeles Lakers, who won their eighth consecutive game with a 111-91 road victory over the Seattle SuperSonics. Bryant was ejected after receiving two technical fouls for arguing with officials.