Bodog Beat

T-Mac and the Rockets face the Spurs this weekend. (AP Images)

At noon Sunday, the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs will face off
against their Southwest Division rival Houston Rockets who just so happen to
be one of this season's hottest teams.

Although the scorching Rockets have since been grounded following their
mind-boggling 22-game win streak, Tracy McGrady and co. are by no means
ready to give up on their home court advantage hopes just yet.

The Spurs, on the other hand, have wheeled off six straight.

At 50-23 the Spurs have the half-game advantage over the Rockets in the
division, but in this year's uber-competitive Western Conference that's
enough to drop the Rockets all the way down to fifth, behind the Pacific
Division-leading Los Angeles Lakers and the Northwest Division-leading Utah
Jazz.

In three games between the two teams so far, the Rockets have the 2-1 edge,
with each team winning their games at home. If this is any indication of
what to expect on Sunday, then Houston will have their work cut out for
them.

Fresh off heroic nights from Luis Scola (18 points, 18 rebounds) and an
aching McGrady (23 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists) on Wednesday, the Rockets
will hope they can break the trend.

McGrady has been dealing with a shoulder injury but it has yet to limit his
production.

The Spurs, who have not been so much as challenged by any of their past six
opponents, will look to ride the always reliable Tim Duncan to the win while
shooting guard Manu Ginobili continues to prove that, despite his reserve
role in San Antonio, he is one of the best guards the league has to offer.

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