Utah Jazz: By the numbers
First quarter breakdown
The Jazz got off to the type of hot start they were looking for as Ronnie Brewer (8 points), Mehmet Okur (7), Carlos Boozer (7) and Andrei Kirilenko (7) all got it going. Utah was up 28-14 with just under two minutes remaining in the quarter, but Houston closed on an 8-4 run to cut it to 32-22. Tracy McGrady had 12 of the Rockets' 22 points.
Second quarter breakdown
Utah opened on a 14-5 run to extend its lead to 46-27 with just over seven minutes remaining in the half. But with the Jazz leading 50-32, McGrady went on a 9-0 run all by himself to cut it to 50-41 with 3:55 left. The Rockets closed out the half on a 24-8 run to trail by only four, 58-54, at the break. McGrady had 28 points in the first half.
Third quarter breakdown
Deron Williams came out firing, as he had 12 points in the first 7:33 while the Jazz opened the quarter on a 19-5 run. Okur added five points during the Utah spurt. After a 28-point first half, McGrady was held scoreless by the Jazz in the quarter and the Rockets' entire team scored only 10 points in all as Utah opened up a 20-point cushion at the break, 85-65.
It was all about maintaining a cushion for the Jazz. Matt Harpring scored six points and Okur and Williams each had five. McGrady scored 12 points to finish with a game-high 40, but the Jazz put it in cruise control to finish out the game at 113-91, clinching the series, 4-2.
Up next: Game 1 at Los Angeles
The Jazz will face the Los Angeles Lakers, Sunday May 4, at 1:30 p.m. MDT on ABC. The Jazz were 1-3 against the Lakers, the West's No. 1 seed. Kobe Bryant averaged a team-high 27 points in the four meetings between the two teams. Pau Gasol, who was added to L.A. in a midseason trade, has yet to face the Jazz in a Laker uniform, as he was not with the team in the first three meetings and injured in the fourth.
Recent comments
I don't know who wrote this report but I just wanted to say I...
Old School in AugustaGA | May 4, 2008 at 10:54 a.m.
