SEATTLE — Tracy McGrady scored 30 points, and the Houston Rockets beat the Seattle SuperSonics 117-94 Saturday night to spoil Kevin Durant’s home debut.
McGrady, entering his 11th NBA season, was 10-of-20 from the floor and made all nine free throws. McGrady, who did not play the final 17 minutes, had seen limited time during the preseason because of a sore knee.
Durant, the No. 2 pick out of Texas who was averaging 16.8 points in his first four exhibition games, finished with 25 points on 9-of-20 shooting. Delonte West, scoring 12 second-period points, finished with 22. Center Robert Swift had 10 points.
With the season opener in 10 days, Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo rested forward Chris Wilcox and guard Earl Watson and tried to limit the minutes for rookie forward Jeff Green, this year’s fifth pick out of Georgetown. But Green, who has a sore knee, entered three minutes into the game and played 22 minutes. He scored five points.
The Sonics were coming off Thursday’s 126-106 loss to Los Angeles, with Carlesimo saying “we went so far backward in the Lakers game … we need to maintain a level of consistency.”
But the Sonics (1-4) did not make much progress. They now have allowed 106.8 points per game, third worst in the league. The Rockets, with a vastly more experienced roster, reached their exhibition high for points. Houston (3-1) built a 13-point lead, 22-9, with three minutes left in the first quarter.
Aaron Brooks, a Seattle native who was Houston’s first-round draft choice (26th pick) out of Oregon, was given a warm reception when he entered the game. He played 18 minutes and scored 12 points.
Rockets 117, Sonics 94
HOUSTON (117)
Battier 7-12 0-0 19, Scola 4-6 2-4 10, Ming 2-8 5-5 9, Alston 1-6 0-0 2, McGrady 10-20 9-9 30, Mutombo 0-1 3-4 3, Hayes 1-2 0-0 2, Francis 1-2 4-7 6, Brooks 4-7 2-2 12, Snyder 3-9 0-0 8, James 1-3 0-0 2, Novak 2-2 1-1 6, Landry 2-3 0-0 4, Butler 2-5 0-0 4, Lucas 0-2 0-0 0, Totals 40-88 26-32 117.
SEATTLE (94)
Wilkins 3-7 0-0 6, Collison 4-10 0-0 8, Thomas 1-5 0-0 2, Ridnour 2-5 4-4 8, Durant 9-20 6-9 25, Green 2-7 1-4 5, Petro 0-3 0-0 0, Swift 4-6 2-2 10, West 8-12 6-9 22, Szczerbiak 0-4 1-2 1, Sene 1-1 1-4 3, Gelabale 1-1 0-0 2, Jackson 1-1 0-0 2, Totals 36-82 21-34 94.
Houston26333820—117
Seattle17251933—94
3-Point Goals—Houston 11-27 (Battier 5-7, Snyder 2-5, Brooks 2-5, Novak 1-1, McGrady 1-5, James 0-2, Alston 0-2), Seattle 1-7 (Durant 1-4, Ridnour 0-1, Szczerbiak 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Houston 40 (Scola 9), Seattle 46 (Thomas 12). Assists—Houston 28 (James 4), Seattle 21 (West 7). Total Fouls—Houston 25, Seattle 31. Technicals—Seattle defensive three second 2, Seattle Bench. A—10,854 (17,072).
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