Houston (13-26) at Milwaukee (21-18) 8:00 pm EST

— -- Houston (13-26) at Milwaukee (21-18) 8:00 pm EST MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Houston Rockets try to avoid a ninth loss in 10 games Monday when they cap a three-game road trip against the Milwaukee Bucks. Two days after scoring 35 points in a double-overtime triumph at Chicago that snapped a seven-game skid, Tracy McGrady dropped a season-high 43 on Detroit on Sunday but it was not enough, as the Rockets were edged by the league-leading Pistons, 99-97. After rookie Luther Head nailed a 3-pointer to pull Houston within 98-97 with 10 seconds to play, Detroit's Richard Hamilton split two free throws, giving the Rockets a shot to tie or win. McGrady was double-teamed and passed to Head, whose 3-pointer bounced high off the rim, and Juwan Howard's tip attempt also missed as time expired. The Bucks have won back-to-back contests following a three-game skid, including a 101-91 home triumph over Charlotte on Saturday. Michael Redd scored 35 points and Jamaal Magloire added 13 and a career-high 22 rebounds for Milwaukee, which was missing point guard T.J. Ford (hamstring) for a second straight game. The teams split their two meetings last season, with each winning at home.