Houston Rockets

NEW SIXERS president of basketball operations and general manager Sam Hinkie said yesterday that he likes "smart risks," likes to "push the chips to the middle of the table in a big way" if he sees "something where you can find an edge. " Sixers owner Josh Harris repeated again yesterday, several times in fact, that despite the train wreck of a season created by last summer's Andrew Bynum deal, he would do it all over again. Hinkie said that he liked that about Josh, that it swayed him in accepting Harris' offer to leave the Houston Rockets for the Sixers.

Who: Sixers (26-29) at Houston Rockets (26-30) When: 8:30 Where: Toyota Center TV/Radio: Comcast Network/WIP (610-AM)  

A blockbuster trade involving Tracy McGrady of the Orlando Magic and Steve Francis of the Houston Rockets dominated the NBA rumor mill yesterday. ESPN reported on its Web site that a McGrady-Francis deal would be made, provided that none of the other key players in the trade were selected in today's expansion draft by the Charlotte Bobcats. The trade would send Juwan Howard to Houston with McGrady, while Orlando would get Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. For salary-cap reasons, Tyronn Lue would also go to Houston in the trade, according to ESPN.

Even after squandering much of their 19-point lead, the San Antonio Spurs weren't worried. "We don't panic because we've got a veteran team," Mario Elie said last night after the visiting Spurs held off the Houston Rockets, 92-83, for their sixth straight victory. "We know how to close a game out. " Sean Elliott scored 19 points as the Spurs ended Houston's nine-game home winning streak. "This was a very strong game for us," Elliott said. "It was as good as we've ever looked in stretches.

The Seattle SuperSonics have the Houston Rockets' number. Last night, at least, it was three. The SuperSonics hit a playoff-record 20 three-pointers, including 13 straight, to beat the visiting Houston Rockets, 105-101, last night and take a 2-0 Western Conference series lead over the two-time defending NBA champions. It was Seattle's 11th consecutive victory over the Rockets, including six this season. The teams combined for 33 "threes," also a playoff record. The Sonics broke Houston's playoff record of 19 "threes," set against Utah on April 29, 1995.

Sam Hinkie just completed his eighth full season with the Rockets. He has been the executive vice president of basketball operations since 2010. He was hired in Houston as the youngest vice president in the NBA in 2007. Before that, he spent two seasons as special assistant to the Rockets general manager. He is seen as an expert in analytics, the day-to-day management of basketball operations, the salary cap, and scouting college and other pro players. Before joining the Rockets, Hinkie advised two NFL teams on draft strategies and using statistical analysis to improve decision making.

Since Doug Collins resigned as head coach more than three weeks ago, speculation surrounding the 76ers has been on finding his replacement. However, on Friday the Sixers secured the services of the man who will make the final call on Collins' successor, naming Sam Hinkie president of basketball operations and general manager. Hinkie, the Houston Rockets' vice president of basketball operations the last five seasons, replaces Tony DiLeo. DiLeo, who has spent 23 years with the organization and was named general manager less than a year ago, will not return.

19th in a series of 25   THE SIXERS won the 1982-83 championship on Sept. 15, 1982. The "NBA Guide," on Page 365, will tell you that the Sixers won Game 4 of the NBA Finals on May 31, 1983, sweeping ther Lakers in four games. But ask anyone who was a Sixers fan in 1982 and they will tell you the day the trade for Moses Malone became official, the Sixers winning the NBA title was just a formality. Malone was the missing piece, and second-year owner Harold Katz knew it. Wanting to make a statement, Katz went after Malone, who, after playing 6 years for the Houston Rockets, was a free agent.

Jeff Van Gundy will be named the Houston Rockets' head coach, ESPN.com reported last night. The former Knicks coach is expected to be in Houston today or tomorrow to look at houses and schools. Van Gundy and the Rockets have not reached a financial agreement, but "they've made their choice," a source told ESPN. Asked Tuesday whether he hopes to close a deal with Van Gundy during his visit, Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson told the Houston Chronicle: "I'd like to get a new coach.

Unable to work out an extension with James Harden, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded the Sixth Man of the Year to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, breaking up the young core of the Western Conference champions. The Thunder acquired guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick in the surprising deal. Oklahoma City also sent center Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to Houston. The Oct. 31 deadline to extend Harden or allow him to become a restricted free agent in July had hung over the Thunder since camp opened.

NEW SIXERS president of basketball operations and general manager Sam Hinkie said yesterday that he likes "smart risks," likes to "push the chips to the middle of the table in a big way" if he sees "something where you can find an edge. " Sixers owner Josh Harris repeated again yesterday, several times in fact, that despite the train wreck of a season created by last summer's Andrew Bynum deal, he would do it all over again. Hinkie said that he liked that about Josh, that it swayed him in accepting Harris' offer to leave the Houston Rockets for the Sixers.

Sam Hinkie just completed his eighth full season with the Rockets. He has been the executive vice president of basketball operations since 2010. He was hired in Houston as the youngest vice president in the NBA in 2007. Before that, he spent two seasons as special assistant to the Rockets general manager. He is seen as an expert in analytics, the day-to-day management of basketball operations, the salary cap, and scouting college and other pro players. Before joining the Rockets, Hinkie advised two NFL teams on draft strategies and using statistical analysis to improve decision making.

Since Doug Collins resigned as head coach more than three weeks ago, speculation surrounding the 76ers has been on finding his replacement. However, on Friday the Sixers secured the services of the man who will make the final call on Collins' successor, naming Sam Hinkie president of basketball operations and general manager. Hinkie, the Houston Rockets' vice president of basketball operations the last five seasons, replaces Tony DiLeo. DiLeo, who has spent 23 years with the organization and was named general manager less than a year ago, will not return.

RUSSELL WESTBROOK relishes the moments when an opponent challenges him and his Thunder teammates and it becomes time to respond. Rookie Patrick Beverley showed a willingness to go toe-to-toe with the Thunder's All-Star point guard, and the Houston Rockets didn't back down despite a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Then it was up to Westbrook and the Thunder to come up with an answer. Westbrook and Kevin Durant each scored 29 points, and Oklahoma City recovered after squandering its big lead to beat visiting Houston, 105-102, last night and take a 2-0 series lead.

The NBA fined Bucks forward Larry Sanders $50,000 for using offensive language and criticizing officials. Sanders implied that the Heat get preferential treatment from the officials after being ejected from Milwaukee's loss to Miami Friday. He had been whistled for fouling James and got two technicals for arguing the call. Heat extend win streak to 22 The Miami Heat equaled the second-longest winning streak in NBA history, pulling away in the fourth quarter Sunday to beat the Raptors, 108-91, in Toronto for their 22d consecutive victory.

19th in a series of 25   THE SIXERS won the 1982-83 championship on Sept. 15, 1982. The "NBA Guide," on Page 365, will tell you that the Sixers won Game 4 of the NBA Finals on May 31, 1983, sweeping ther Lakers in four games. But ask anyone who was a Sixers fan in 1982 and they will tell you the day the trade for Moses Malone became official, the Sixers winning the NBA title was just a formality. Malone was the missing piece, and second-year owner Harold Katz knew it. Wanting to make a statement, Katz went after Malone, who, after playing 6 years for the Houston Rockets, was a free agent.

Emeka Okafor had 17 points and 11 rebounds and made the go-ahead free throw with 5.2 seconds remaining to help the Wizards overcome the Houston Rockets' three-point barrage for a 105-103 win Saturday in Washington. Houston threw up 46 three-point attempts, the most in the NBA this season, and made 19. They hit 13 of them in the first half, one off the NBA record. Elsewhere: Ex-76er Andre Iguodala dished out 10 assists, scored 13 points, and blocked a pair of shots as the Denver Nuggets snapped a four-game road losing streak with a 113-99 victory over the host Bobcats.

JAMES HARDEN scored a career-high 46 points and Jeremy Lin added 29 as the Houston Rockets mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback for a 122-119 victory over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Houston was down by 14 points with about 7 minutes left. The Rockets used a 21-4 run to erase the deficit and take a 114-111 lead with 1:46 remaining. Harden stepped back under heavy pressure from Serge Ibaka to sink a three to tie it, before Lin connected on one seconds later to give the Rockets their first lead of the second half.