Three Jazz Players Score 20+ Points, Defuse Rockets 93-82

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA PLAYOFFS

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Although they will never acknowledge it publicly, the Houston Rockets miss Yao Ming and his presence on the basketball court.? Granted, they had their amazing 20+ game winning streak,?but the Rockets?aren’t quite the same team without Ming.? The Utah Jazz made that point abundantly clear Saturday as three Jazz players – Andrei Kirilenko, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer – combined for 61 points, leading Utah to the relatively easy win over Houston 93-82 at Toyota Center, taking a 1-0 lead in their Western Conference playoff series.

Utah managed to out-rebound Houston 12-5 as they led after the first quarter 23-16; despite Tracy McGrady remaining on the floor for Houston, the Jazz took advantage as they stretched their lead to 30-20.? The Rockets out-rebounded the Jazz 9-3 over the last 5 minutes of the first half and reduced the Jazz’ lead to 47-41 at halftime.? Houston would open the third quarter with a 12-4 run, with McGrady being involved in every possession of the run, either by scoring or providing assists; the Rockets would, as a result, get their first lead since the early part of the first quarter, 53-51.

Utah’s Carlos Boozer would score on 3 consecutive possessions, but would pick up his 4th foul with 6:30 left in the third period and would be replaced by Paul Millsap; Houston’s Luis Scola would score to cut their deficit to 57-55.? But Utah’s Kyle Korver would drain a pair of 3-pointers in the final 2:29 of the period as the jazz led 68-60; Williams would make a trey with 9:29 left in the game to extend the Jazz’ lead to double-digits.? The Rockets wouldn’t recover after that onslaught.?

Utah had 3 players who scored at least 20 points, led by Kirilenko with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block while Williams and Boozer scored 20 apiece – with Williams grabbing 2 rebounds, dishing out 10 assists, blocking a shot but turning the ball over 5 times while Boozer grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out 3 assists.? Houston was led by Shane Battier with 22 points, including 4 three-pointers, 3 rebounds and an assist while McGrady scored 20 with 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals.? Utah plays again on Monday as they face Houston at Toyota Center in Houston.

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