T-Mac Drops 32 on Bucks in Rockets' Win

MILWAUKEE - Tracy McGrady scored 32 points and teamed with Yao Ming to lead a big third-quarter spurt as the Houston Rockets beat the Milwaukee Bucks 97-93 on Wednesday.

Yao added 23 for the Rockets before he and McGrady went cold down the stretch as the Bucks tried to make a comeback.

Michael Redd scored 34 for Milwaukee, topping the 30-point mark for the third time in five games. Redd and guard Charlie Bell helped the Bucks make a fourth-quarter comeback attempt that ultimately fell short.

Yao and McGrady combined to score all 17 points in Houston's 17-7 run at the beginning of the third quarter.

Yao hit three field goals before the Bucks scored a point in the second half, then McGrady answered a hook shot by the Bucks' Charlie Villanueva with a 3-pointer.

Later in the quarter, McGrady spun around and hit a jump shot to put the Rockets ahead 69-50 with 4:01 remaining. On the Rockets' next possession, McGrady came back and hit another jumper. The Rockets built a 76-58 lead to begin the fourth quarter.

With Milwaukee trailing 80-65 early in the fourth quarter, Bucks fans turned their attention to a hometown star - chanting to Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy to put rookie Steve Novak, a former Marquette player, in the game.

But McGrady and Yao went cold down the stretch, and Bell - who struggled to guard McGrady early in the game - helped shoot the Bucks back into the game.

Milwaukee closed within 82-72 on a 3-pointer by Bell. Milwaukee's Dan Gadzuric added a layup, cutting the Rockets' lead to 82-74 with 7:52 remaining.

Houston outrebounded Milwaukee 43-33, enjoying a double-digit rebounding edge for their third straight game.

Notes:@ Bucks fans chanted "Put in Novak!" at the end of the game, but Van Gundy didn't oblige. Novak hasn't played in Houston's last two games. ... 40-year-old Houston center Dikembe Mutombo had 10 points, including eight in the first half, and played a season-high 13 minutes. ... Villanueva, who has averaged a double-double in points and rebounds through the Bucks' first four games, was held to eight points on 3-for-8 shooting. ... Wednesday's attendance was 16,102.