"Long after Monday's game and again after Tuesday's practice, Rockets forward Luis Scola pushed himself through sets of shooting drills, cutting through imaginary screens to take 18-foot jumpers.

"I try to do it all the time," Scola said of the extra work. "Sometimes we don't have time. I don't like the way I'm playing. I know just one way to get back to what I do — just work hard."

Rockets coach Kevin McHale described the effort as typical of Scola but not everyone.

"Luis is just a hard worker," McHale said. "There's a reason that guy's a winner. … He's just a grinder; he's a worker. He makes it easy to come to work. I can't say that for everybody.""