Apr

30

McGrady’s 29 Helps Houston Stave Off Elimination, Whips Utah 95-69

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA PLAYOFFS 

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The Houston Rockets are without a doubt a team whose backs are against the wall.? Now all of a sudden, they’re playing like a team that had a 20+ game winning streak early in the regular season; Tracy McGrady scored 29 points, leading Houston to a very convincing 95-69 shellacking of the Utah Jazz Tuesday night at Toyota Center.? The victory narrows Utah’s advantage in this best-of-seven series to 3-2.

Neither team shot well in the first quarter, as evidenced by Houston’s 18-16 lead going into the second quarter; McGrady didn’t offer much help to the Rockets in the first half, yet the Rockets went into halftime leading 43-32.? McGrady made a jumper 14 seconds into the third quarter but also turned the ball over twice which helped Utah cut the Rockets’ lead to 7; however, McGrady made a layup and Luis Scola made a 3-point play, allowing Houston to build a double-digit lead.? The Rockets continued to build on their lead, using a 12-0 run to stretch their advantage to 70-48; McGrady drained a jumper with 8 ticks on the clock in the third quarter which put Houston up 74-55.? Utah couldn’t mount a challenge after that onslaught, essentially sealing the win for the Rockets.

Houston was led by McGrady with 29 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals but committed 5 turnovers while Scola scored 18 with?12 rebounds and 2 assists; Rafer Alston added 14 with 4 treys, a rebound, 6 assists and 2 steals.? Utah was led by Carlos Boozer with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 3steals while Mehmet Okur scored 14 with 10 rebounds.? Houston hopes to knot the series at 3-all as they travel to?Salt Lake City?to face the Jazz on Friday.



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