Tracy McGrady - File

ATLANTA (AP)

The Houston Rockets became the third team in NBA history to win 20 consecutive games, tying for the league's second-longest winning streak with an 83-75 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.

The Rockets joined the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (33 straight) and 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks (20) as the only teams to win 20 or more in a row.

Tracy McGrady scored 21 of his 28 points in the second half and Shane Battier had 15 points as Houston struggled to preserve their winning streak.

They were held to their lowest first-half total during the span and trailed 33-32 at half-time. A basket by Atlanta's Marvin Williams with five seconds left in the game ended the Rockets' streak of 10 straight wins by 10 or more points.

Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 28 points, and Josh Smith had 16 points and a career-high 22 rebounds.