If you just tuned in to the Rockets season, this is the part where the playoffs are starting to slip away.
Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups combined for 47 points as the Pistons roughed up the Rockets 96-83 in Detroit Tuesday night.
Cuttino Mobley led the Rockets with 25 while Yao Ming added 20.
For lack of a more descriptive term, Steve Francis sucked. Francis was just 4-13 from the floor for 11 points and 4 assists and is now shooting under 36% in his last 9 ballgames.