--F Shane Battier hit two 3-pointers to push his streak of games with at least one trey to 27 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NBA. Battier matched Kenny Smith for the second-longest steak in franchise history. Luther Head holds the Rockets' record with a streak of 37 games. Dana Barros holds the NBA record with a streak of 89 games with at least one 3-pointer. --G Tracy McGrady returned to practice for two days. He did not return, however, to the active roster. He did not even return to the bench, remaining in the locker room while waiting to make his season debut. McGrady did, however, make it clear that he believes he is ready to play for the first time since last February's microfracture surgery. "I feel I can play, but the coach and the GM obviously feel different," McGrady said. "They run this team and until they feel I'm ready to play, then I guess I'll be watching."
The Rockets have not said how long they expect McGrady to remain out. Team orthopedist Dr. Walter Lowe, however, said in a statement that McGrady will be monitored "over the coming weeks," indicating his return is not imminent.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Sometimes you need to get hit in the jaw to wake yourself up, and I hope that's what happens. We can't play that way. There is just no way we can succeed." -- Coach Rick Adelman.
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