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McGrady stars as Rockets win

In need of a push, Tracy McGrady stepped up and pulled the Houston Rockets one game closer to a playoff berth in the Western Conference.

McGrady scored 26 of his 35 points in the second half as the visiting Rockets ran away from the Portland Trail Blazers 95-88 on Thursday night.

The Rockets’ 50th win of the season gave them a share of fifth place with idle Phoenix (50-25), just two and a half games behind conference leader New Orleans.

“There’s going to be a team that wins 50 games and doesn’t make the playoffs,” McGrady said. “Every night is a battle out there. One night you’re in the fifth spot, the next day you’re in the third spot. It’s crazy.”

Rookie Aaron Brooks had 12 points and Bobby Jackson finished with 11, in place of Rafer Alston (sore left hamstring), as the Rockets ended a modest two-game slide by completing a four-game season series sweep over the Trail Blazers.

After blowing a 16-point first-half lead, the Rockets trailed 63-61 with 3:49 left in the third quarter. However, McGrady, who had 14 points in the frame, erupted for nine in a period-ending 13-0 run, putting the Rockets ahead, 73-64.

Portland opened the final quarter on a 5-0 run to pull within 74-68. However, McGrady scored 10 of the Rockets’ next 12 points, extending the lead to 86-74 with 5:36 left en route to the victory.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points and Jarrett Jack added 19 for the Trail Blazers (38-38) who were without All-Star Brandon Roy (groin injury) and Martell Webster (flu-like symptoms) dropped their fourth in a row.

“The good ones are capable of taking games over,” Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. “When they’re hot it’s difficult to stop them. When we made runs tonight, Tracy made big shots.”

Elsewhere the Chicago Bulls beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-98 Larry Hughes scored 25 point against his former team, while Ben Gordon had 24, including the go-ahead free throws down the stretch as the Bulls overcame a 17-point second-half deficit.

Chicago trailed 78-61 with four minutes left in the third quarter, but outscored the reigning Eastern Conference champions 40-20 the rest of the way to snap a six-game road slide.

Down by eight entering the final quarter, Gordon scored 14 points, including three free throws with 1:42, giving the Bulls a 99-98 advantage.

The Cavaliers looked to regain the lead, but league top scorer LeBron James missed a driving layup with 5.9 seconds left. Gordon was fouled and made both free throws with 3.4 ticks remaining to make it 101-98.

With a final shot to force overtime, Cavs sharpshooter Daniel Gibson took a pass from James, but misfired a three-pointer as time expired.

James tossed in 33 points while Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 23 for the playoff-bound Cavaliers (42-34), who had won 10 of their previous 11 home games.

Also on Thursday, the Sacramento Kings beat the LA Clippers 110-98

Kevin Martin scored 26 points, Francisco Garcia added 17 off the bench and the Kings avoided a four-game season sweep to the lowly Clippers.

Mikki Moore had 16 for the Kings (35-40 who led by 20 in the third quarter en route to their third-straight win.
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