McGrady's return not enough as Pacers top Rockets
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indiana Pacers played their best defensive game of the season to spoil Tracy McGrady's return to the Houston lineup.
McGrady finished with 19 points but shot 7-for-22 from the field in the Pacers' 81-76 victory Tuesday night. He had seven turnovers, including two critical ones in the final two minutes while the Rockets were trying to come back.
McGrady had missed seven games with back spasms.
"It's pretty tough being out," McGrady said. "This league is too good to come back and think you're going to have an impact right away. I thought I did some things great out there, but for the most part, I was a little rusty, fatigued. Made a lot of fatigue mistakes and it's just going to take me a few games to get into game shape."
Indiana's Stephen Jackson, who guarded McGrady for most of the game, said it still was a tough matchup. McGrady averaged 19 points, six rebounds and six assists before sitting out.
"He's one of those guys that you've just got to make him work," Jackson said. "You've got to make him take tough shots. You've got to let him know you're there the whole game. He's not one of those guys you can flat out stop.
The Rockets were playing their first game since All-Star center Yao Ming was lost for at least six weeks with a fractured bone beneath his right knee.
