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Alston fired in 31 points with eight three-pointers - both career-highs - and the rampaging Rockets extended the NBA's second-longest winning streak to 22 games with a 104-92 home court victory over the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

 "I thought Tracy had as poor a game as he had all season and that shows how good their team really is," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Rafer Alston was difficult to guard for any of our players. He had a good night."

   McGrady, averaging 21.5 points during the Rockets' run, made just four-of-16 shots and finished with 11 points - all in the second half.

 "You get caught up in the moment and you get out of your game a little bit because the other guy is playing so well," T-Mac said. "I was one of those guys tonight.

 "Rafer was doing some stuff that was just amazing. The way he was shooting the ball, I was just in awe of his performance."

   The victory put the Rockets two-thirds of the way to matching the league's all-time record of 33 consecutive wins set by the Lakers during the 1971-72 NBA Championship season.

 "This was a good test for us," McGrady offered. "Let's keep it going. We're a very humble group and we believe in ourselves."

   Sparkplug Bobby Jackson had 19 points off the bench, Shane Battier added 14 while Argentine rookie Luis Scola finished with 13 and 11 rebounds for the Rockets (46-20), who moved past the Lakers into sole possession atop the Western Conference standings.

 "It just a joy ride," Rockets guard Luther Head said. "When our best players need help, it's good that our other players can step up like they did tonight."

   Bryant led Los Angeles with 33 points on an icy 11-of-33 field goal shooting. Lamar Odom had 17 and 11 boards for the Lakers, who missed Spanish starting centre Pau Gasol (left ankle sprain).

 Still Bryant acknowledged the Rockets' accomplishment.

 It's an incredible streak no matter how you look at it," he said. "You have to tip your hats to them because they're playing very, very well."

   Alston had 16 points in the opening quarter and the Rockets outscored their guests 35-21 in the second to take a 59-44 halftime cushion, even though McGrady missed all six of his shots.

 The Rockets went cold, however. They made just four-of-23 shots in the third stanza, allowing the Lakers to pull within two, until Alston's seventh three-pointer ended the frame with the hosts ahead, 71-66 edge.

 "Our movement stopped and we just couldn't make shots," Rockets coach Rick Adelman explained.

 Houston held an 86-83 advantage midway through the final quarter frame before going on a decisive 14-2 tear.

 Battier made a driving layup and a three-pointer. After a basket by Bryant at the other end, McGrady buried an 18-foot jumper and Jackson drained a triple, giving the Rockets a 96-86 cushion with 3:23 left.

 Alston and Jackson added layups to seal the Rockets' 15th consecutive victory at Toyota Center.

 Elsewhere:    Denver Nuggets 168, Seattle SuperSonics 112    Carmelo Anthony had 26 points, Allen Iverson added 24 and the Nuggets spanked the Sonics by scoring the most points in an NBA this season.

 Kenyon Martin netted 23 points, Marcus Camby collected 13 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for host Denver (40-26) which shot 60 per cent from the floor in the blowout.

 Detroit Pistons 105, New Orleans Hornets 84    Backup Jarvis Hayes scored a season-high 29 points, including a career-best seven three-pointers, leading the host Pistons to their fourth win in the last five games.

 Peja Stojakovic had 21 points while Chris Paul contributed 14 points and 14 assists despite a gimpy ankle for New Orleans (44-21) which played without All-Star forward David West (right ankle sprain).

 Cleveland Cavaliers 98, Charlotte Bobcats 91    LeBron James scored 33 points, including a key layup with 10 seconds left in a 6-0 closing run, and the Cavaliers turned back the Bobcats for their season-high seventh consecutive home victory.

 Jason Richardson led Charlotte (24-42) with 33 points.

 Alanta Hawks 109, New York Knicks 98    Joe Johnson had 28 points with 11 assists and the visiting Hawks tied idle New Jersey for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

 Nate Robinson scored 23 points for New York (19-47) losers in eight of their last nine games.

 Dallas Mavericks 98, Miami Heat 73    Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points and the visiting Mavericks led by 23 after one en route to handing the league-worst Heat (11-54) its ninth straight loss and 35th in its last 38 games.

 Sacramento Kings 106, Toronto Raptors 100    Kevin Martin scored 32 points while Ron Artest had 19 and 10 rebounds, leading the Kings to their third win in the last four games.

 Jason Kapono tallied 26 points for the visiting Raptors, who fell to 2-7 since losing All-Star forward Chris Bosh with a sore right knee.

By Paul Levine, dpa