(Best E Casino) - The Houston Rockets are the hottest team in the NBA. With All-Star center Yao Ming sidelined for the remainder of the season, the time has come for Tracy McGrady to lead this team to a playoff a berth.

The scorching Rockets attempt to win a franchise-best 16th straight game, as they welcome the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday to the Toyota Center. It is the second and final meeting of the campaign between the clubs. On February 1, Carl Landry scored 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Rockets over the Pacers, 106-103, at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Rockets have won two in a row in the series. Indiana has lost two straight after winning its last two at Houston.

Houston concludes a five-game homestand against Indiana. On Sunday, McGrady scored 22 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out six assists as the Rockets extended their winning streak to 15 games with a 103-89 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Shane Battier had 20 points in the victory, while Luis Scola scored 18 points and grabbed 14 boards for Houston. Rafer Alston added 16 points for the Rockets.

The current winning streak matches a franchise record. Houston won 15 in a row to open the 1993-94 campaign and from February 13 to March 18, 1993. The Rockets have won three straight without Yao, who is out for the remainder of the season with a left foot injury.

On Monday, Yao had successful surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. The 7-6 center averaged 22.0 points and 10.8 rebounds in 55 games this season.

The Rockets are 21-9 at home this season. They will visit Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday at American Airlines Center.

Houston (39-20) is in third place in the Southwest Division, three games behind the first place San Antonio Spurs and one game in back of the second place New Orleans Hornets. The Mavericks are in fourth place, just one game behind the Rockets.

McGrady is averaging 21.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and a team-best 5.6 assists in 44 games this season. He has scored over 20 points in six of his last seven outings and is averaging 19.3 points, 4.4 boards and 6.5 assists in his last 10 games.

The Rockets are scheduled to play 11 of their final 23 games at home. There are plenty of tough games left. They have home games against the Hornets, Lakers, Celtics and Suns. Their road schedule is difficult, as they will visit Dallas, New Orleans, Golden State, Phoenix, San Antonio, Denver and Utah.