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Houston will try to get back on track after having a season-high seven-game winning streak cut short with Wednesday's 105-99 loss versus Milwaukee in the opener of a four-game homestand.

 

"We gave up 63 points in the second half. There's no excuse for that," said Rockets coach Kevin McHale. "We had a great second quarter followed by a poor third quarter and then we couldn't ... we just never got any momentum in that game until late but when we started defending again it was too late."

 

The Rockets will also host New York and Minnesota on the residency. The Rockets will try to keep Washington under the 90-point mark since they have won 18 straight games when doing so.

 

Houston defeated Washington, 114-106, on Jan. 16 this season in D.C. and got 25 points and eight assists from Martin. Dalembert had 20 points and seven rebounds for the Rockets, who are 11-2 in the last 13 matchups in this series. Washington has lost two straight, 15 of 17 and 18 of its last 21 road encounters with the Rockets.

 

The Hawks had won six of seven coming in, but trailed by as many as 26 to the Spurs. THey also turned the ball over 17 times in the loss and slipped to 0-5 this season when scoring less than 90 points.

 

Detroit, meanwhile, also enters tonight's contest on a losing note after falling, 101-98, to the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

 

"We definitely gave a great effort tonight, everybody's intensity was really high, everybody was focused and we were all playing together," said Monroe. "It was a tough loss."

 

As well as they may have played against one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, it was still the Pistons' 12th loss in 14 tries. However, head coach Lawrence Frank was pleased with his team's effort.

 

The Hawks took three of their four meetings with the Pistons last season and have won five of seven and eight of the last 11 overall in this series. Atlanta, though, has dropped 10 of 12 in Detroit.

 

Anthony is averaging 23.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 17 games this season, but has made just 31.7 percent of his shots (40-of-126) after returning from the one-game absence. He's also hit just 5-of-28 three-point tries in that time.

 

Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani will be out for an undefined period of time after aggravating a previous calf injury. The 26-year-old suffered a strained left calf back on January 11 and missed six games, but suffered a recurrence in a double-overtime win at Utah on Wednesday.

 

In his sixth NBA season, the former first overall pick in 2006 has averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest in 13 games.

 

"This morning in Milwaukee, Andrew had additional diagnostic tests performed on his left ankle. The results of the testing confirmed a left ankle fracture which will keep Bogut sidelined for a period of 8-to-12 weeks."

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

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