Steve Merril s NBA Full Court Report

Steve Merril s NBA Full Court Report Thursday, Jan. 5 We are now in the third month after the NBA season and injuries are beginning to play an important role. Tonight the two national TV games are a perfect example of how the key players are missing or questionable, for each team. HOUSTON at CLEVELAND (-7?, 191) (TNT), the Rockets snapped the five games with a 123-111 upset of losing to win in Washington on 5? Underdog point on Tuesday. The Rockets dominated the match and led by more than 26 points and an excellent shot 55% from the field. E 'was only the sixth time all season that Houston was 100 ports + points, and only the second time recording over 49% FG on offensive. Tracy McGrady led the team with 38 points and Juwan Howard added 24 points and played well his average of 9.4 ppg. Reproduction without Rockets center Yao Ming, with a touch of prejudice. Ming is the second team in scoring (19.9 ppg) and leads the team in the recovery (9.0 rpg) and blocks (1.4 BPG). Cleveland comes from a great victory last night at Milwaukee, 91-84, in which the Knights to overcome a five-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter. Cleveland also had to play without Larry Hughes, who lost the game with a finger injury and is now considered questionable. Hughes is the second team scoring (16.2 ppg) and steals (1.5 SPG) and the third team to support (3.9 APG). The Knights are now 8-1 SU / ATS the last nine games, with six of the eight victories coming at home. This is not surprising, as Cleveland has been very strong at home this season, going 13-3 SU (12-4 ATS). INDIANA at Golden State (-8) (TNT) The figure that their fight pacers 5-1 SU / ATS run in mid-December, and are just 1-5 SU / ATS in their last six games, including a loss 106 -- 86 to Denver last night. Indiana was short-handed as Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley missed the game. O'Neal combat pneumonia and is questionable tonight. He leads the team in scoring (22.3 ppg), recovered (10.0 rpg) and blocks (2.3 BPG). Tinsley is questionable tonight with a biceps injury, and he leads the team of support (5.4 APG) and steals (1.5 SPG) and the third scoring (11.5 ppg). Golden State has been very streaky team this season and, after a 0-5 SU run in mid-December, have been more than 3-1 SU the last four games. The Warriors have focused on defense and have 48% or higher FG in ten of last eleven games. Golden State was without its best defender today, as the center Adonal Foyle is not expected to play due to back problems. Foyle average 23.3 minutes per game and leads the team in blocks (1.7 BPG). Home court was heavily involved in this series, with the home team going 6-1 SU / ATS the last four years, including a perfect 2-0 SU / ATS last season.