Hooped Up

Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets shook off a miserable first half to match the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.McGrady poured in 21 of his team-high 28 points in the second half and Shane Battier added 15 to lead the Rockets to their 20th consecutive win with an 83-75 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.

Reserve Chuck Hayes had eight points and 12 rebounds and Luther Head scored seven for the Rockets, who became just the third team in NBA history to win at least 20 straight games, matching the streak of the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks.

That team rattled off 20 straight from February 6-March 8, 1971. The only team with a streak longer than the Rockets and Bucks is the 1971-1972 Los Angeles Lakers, who won an NBA-best 33 straight from November 5, 1971-January 7, 1972.

National Post