ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Aaron Brooks, Shooting guard Tracy McGrady, Small forward Ron Artest, Power forward Luis Scola, Center Yao Ming. Bench -- Guard Brent Barry, Guard Aaron Brooks, Guard Luther Head, Forward Chuck Hayes, Forward Carl Landry, Forward Shane Battier.
PLAYER NOTES: --G Tracy McGrady, after one good shooting game, slumped again. After coming out his his 1-of-16 shooting in two games in Los Angeles to make 11-of-18 against the Suns, McGrady made just 2-of-12 shots, scoring just seven points, his third game in single-digit scoring in the past four.
--F Ron Artest had made just three of 23 shots in his previous two games, dropped his shooting percentage to 30.8 percent for the season, but then turned things around against the Spurs. Artest made 8-of-16 shots, scoring 18 points, but did miss a rushed, deep three-pointer at the buzzer.
--G Aaron Brooks, after scoring 39 points in the previous two games and pushing his shooting percentage to 48.4 percent, got his first career start with Rafer Alston suspended, but made just 6-of-17 shots. His eight rebounds, however, doubled his career high.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F Shane Battier (bruised right foot) has resumed workouts, but still has no timetable to practice or play.
--G Steve Francis (knee surgery) has yet to go through a full practice while rehabilitating after last February's knee surgery.
