With another game won and the roars from the largest crowd ever to see a Rockets home game engulfing him, Rafer Alston joyfully soaked in the moment.
There was nothing left to do but dribble the time away waiting for a clock-stopping foul, so he went into his sleight of hand magic act with the ball, the game, and the latest whatever-it-takes Rockets win secure in his hands.
A day like no other in the winning streak ended the way they all have; with the Rockets on top.
From Alston scoring a career-high 31 points to Shane Battier blanketing Kobe Bryant down the stretch, the Rockets blew past the Los Angeles Lakers to a 104-92 win before 18,409, taking sole possession of first place in the Western Conference with their 22nd consecutive win.
“That’s the makeup of our team,” Tracy McGrady said. “You never know who is going to come through for you.”
Bryant scored 24 points, but made just 11 of 33 attempts. In the fourth quarter, when the Rockets rebuilt their lead to as much as 15, Bryant made just 2 of 10 attempts.