Rockets lose second straight
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Unbeatable for seven weeks, the Houston Rockets now have a losing streak.

Bonzi Wells scored 20 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to help the New Orleans Hornets beat Houston 90-69 Wednesday night, handing the Rockets their second loss in two nights after a 22-game winning streak.

Tracy McGrady, who scored only eight points in a 94-74 loss to Boston a night earlier, scored 15 against New Orleans, still well below his nearly 22-point average.

''We've got to make it easier on him,'' Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. ''They are doubling him so hard. They're coming at him all the time. If he gives it up, we have to be able to finish it.''

Houston, which shot 41 percent against Boston, was even worse in New Orleans, finishing at 34 percent. The Rockets also set a season low for points.

''We've got to get ourselves together, but it is getting harder every game,'' McGrady said.

The Rockets' low didn't compare to the one set by the struggling Miami Heat, who tied the third-worst total in the shot-clock era in a 96-54 loss at Toronto.

Wells was traded from Houston to New Orleans along with Mike James in exchange for Bobby Jackson nearly a month ago.

David West had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Chris Paul added 21 points and 10 assists, and New Orleans pulled a half-game ahead of the Rockets for the Southwest Division lead and tied the Los Angeles Lakers atop the Western Conference.