HOUSTON — Yao Ming had 30 points and 17 rebounds, Tracy McGrady added 17 points and five assists and the Houston Rockets beat Seattle 96-89 on Monday, the SuperSonics’ team-record 11th consecutive loss.
Bonzi Wells scored 16 points for the Rockets, who’ve won seven of their past nine games.
Wally Szczerbiak and Jeff Green had 15 points apiece for Seattle, now riding the longest single-season losing streak in team history. The Sonics lost 12 consecutive games across the end of the 1968-69 season and the start of 1969-70.
Former Texas star Kevin Durant shot poorly for the third straight game, scoring 12 points and shooting 4-for-13 from the floor. Durant was 10-of-39 in his previous two games.
The Sonics, who’ve lost 10 straight road games, shot 51 percent in the first half and trailed at halftime 53-52. But they missed 14 of their first 20 shots in the third quarter and the Rockets stretched the lead to 12.
Szczerbiak sank a 3-pointer with 1:50 remaining to finish a 10-4 spurt and cut Houston’s lead to 89-85. But Yao sank two free throws at the other end, then blocked a put-back try by Jeff Green.
The Sonics missed six of their last eight shots and lost to Houston for the 10th time in 12 meetings.
McGrady came off the bench for the second straight game after he missed three weeks with a sore left knee. He checked in with 5:08 left in the first quarter, with Seattle ahead 13-11.
The Sonics led 24-22 after the first quarter and maintained their lead early in the second period by repeatedly beating the Rockets down the floor for easy baskets. Durant, guarded by McGrady much of the second quarter, put back an offensive rebound and Green charged down the lane for a one-handed dunk to put the Sonics up 37-33.
Rookie Carl Landry scored 11 points in the second quarter to help Houston retake the lead by halftime.
McGrady, still noticeably limping on his gimpy knee, hit a jumper from the wing with a minute left in the third quarter to give Houston its first double-digit lead, 75-65.
NOTES: The Rockets went 1-for-12 from 3-point range. … Kurt
Thomas grabbed 11 rebounds for Seattle. … The game was tied 16 times and the lead switched hands 15 times. … Yao has reached 30 points in seven games this season. His rebound total was two shy of his season high.
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