Utah Jazz game highlights
The Jazz won despite going 0-for-14 from the 3-point line. It was the first playoff game since June 6, 1998 against the Chicago Bulls that they did not hit a three. They were also the first team to win a playoff game despite not hitting a 3-pointer in 12 years.
First quarter breakdown
After the Jazz built a lead at 18-11 behind Carlos Boozer's and Ronnie Brewer's six points apiece and Okur's four, the Rockets closed the quarter on a 12-3 run to lead 23-11. Tracy McGrady, held scoreless the first 9:42, hit three consecutive buckets during the run. Deron Williams was held scoreless, but did add three assists.
Second quarter breakdown
Trailing 29-32, the Jazz go on a 9-0 run over a four-minute span that included forcing the Rockets into eight consecutive misses. Utah continued to pour on the pressure and closed out the half on a 17-6 run. Andrei Kirilenko led the way with a 10-point quarter, but the big story was the defense holding the Rockets to only 15 points in the quarter.
Third quarter breakdown
The Jazz burst from the locker room going on a 10-2 run over the first 4:10 to extend their lead to the biggest of the game at 56-40. Houston answered with a 13-3 run of its own over the next 3:09 to close back to 59-53, and it remained about even the rest of the way. Brewer led the Jazz with six points in the quarter.
Houston closed to within one at 68-67 before a pair of buckets from Williams, Boozer's first two points of the second half and a Kyle Korver mid-range jumper extended the lead back to 76-67. At 78-73 Williams has a dunk and a layup to seemingly put the game away at 82-73, but a free throw and back-to-back 3-pointers by Shane Battier and Rafer Alston force the Jazz to hit four free throws in the last 15 seconds to win it.
Turning point
After Houston had closed to one point at 68-67 two minutes into the fourth quarter, the Jazz answered with an 8-0 run of their own. Williams drove to the hoop for two layups, Boozer scored his first two points of the second half, and Korver knocked down a mid-range jumper.
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