TORONTO, March 16 (UPI) -- Tracy McGrady had 24 points, five rebounds and seven assists Friday night as the Houston Rockets beat the Toronto Raptors, 114-100.
Houston opened up a 35-18 advantage after the first quarter, and basically coasted to one of its easiest victories of the season.
Rafer Alston had 23 points, eight rebounds and nine assists; Yao Ming had 23 points and 12 rebounds; and Juwan Howard added 10 points and six rebounds for the Rockets, who have won five of their last six games.
T.J. Ford led Atlantic Division front-runner Toronto with 18 points and eight assists. Chris Bosh had 16 points and 19 rebounds, Juan Dixon had 17 points and four assists, and Andrea Bargnani had 16 points and four rebounds for the Raptors, who had a four-game victory streak broken.
They could not overcome a 62-53 halftime deficit.
