updated 11:45 p.m. ET March 10, 2008

HOUSTON - Houston coach Rick Adelman has started reminding his team what’s at stake beyond preserving one of the NBA’s all-time winning streaks.

That seems to be the only pep talk the Rockets need.

Tracy McGrady scored 19 points in less than three quarters and Houston routed cold-shooting New Jersey 91-73 on Monday night for its 19th consecutive victory, matching the third-longest winning streak in league history.

The Rockets won their 10th straight game by double digits, tying an NBA record last set by the Nets in 2004. They also won their 13th in a row at the Toyota Center, the franchise’s longest home-court streak since the 1985-86 team won 20 consecutive games at The Summit.

Most importantly, the Rockets closed within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs for the top seed in the Western Conference. And that’s the number Adelman keeps emphasizing.

“I told them (Monday) they have a double whammy going,” Adelman said. “Not only do you have a chance to do something remarkable and get this streak going and keep it going, but also, every time you win, you keep shortening the season and you keep that lead that you have over other people and you’re moving up the standings.”

The Lakers play in Houston on Sunday, but the hype for that showdown can wait.

Houston can match the second-longest victory streak in NBA history with a win in Atlanta on Wednesday night. The Milwaukee Bucks won 20 in a row during the 1970-71 season.

“It’s impressive, and we keep adding on games,” point guard Rafer Alston said. “It’s fantastic to have your name mentioned and your team mentioned with some of the best teams, some of the best players to ever play the game. It says a lot about our ballclub.”

The Rockets held the Nets to 30 percent shooting (24-of-79) to match the league’s longest run of consecutive wins since the 1999-2000 Lakers won 19 in a row on their way to the first of three straight championships with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

Houston shot 46 percent (34-of-74) and pulled away by smothering the Nets on defense and outrebounding them 41-29. McGrady went only 6-for-14 from the floor.

“In this league, one thing you’re going to have is off nights on the offensive end,” McGrady said. “One thing you can control is how you play defense, and that’s every night. As a team, we really understand that.”

Vince Carter scored 13 and Richard Jefferson had 12 for the Nets, who’ve lost six in a row and nine of their last 12. The Nets shot 9-for-43 (21 percent) in the first half.

“It’s always frustrating when we try to get to the hole and don’t make our shots,” Carter said.

Houston has beaten only eight teams with winning records during its streak, but Adelman bristled at the notion that the Rockets’ roll is bogus because of all the bad teams they’ve faced.

“You know what?” he said. “Everybody in this league plays the same schedule. If it’s that easy, why hasn’t somebody else done it? I don’t see the problem saying, ’You know? That’s pretty remarkable what they’ve done.”’

McGrady’s only 3-pointer came in the final minute of the third quarter put Houston up 70-45. He sat out the entire fourth quarter, joking and cheering with Dikembe Mutombo.

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