Houston Community News >> Houston Rockets Go Up 2-0 on the Utah Jazz
4/24/2007 HOUSTON (AP) -- Tracy
McGrady scored 31 points and the Houston Rockets had an exceptional night at the
free throw line to overcome Carlos Boozer's huge game.
The Rockets went 34-for-38 from the line in a 98-90 victory over the Utah Jazz
on Monday night and took a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Boozer matched a career high with 41 points, tossing in jumpers from all angles
over 7-foot-6 Yao Ming. He finished 17-of-30 from the field and had 12 rebounds
and six assists.
But Boozer dribbled the ball off his foot with 20 seconds to play and Yao
finished off the Jazz with two more free throws with 12 seconds remaining.
Yao had 27 points and hit all nine of his free throws. McGrady went 12-for-14
from the line.
Chuck Hayes, whose wife gave birth on Saturday, had 12 points and 12 rebounds
for the Rockets, who have won seven of eight playoff series when they led 2-0.
Game 3 is Thursday night in Salt Lake City.
Since 2001, only six teams have rallied from an 0-2 deficit to win a series. The
Rockets were one of the teams that blew a 2-0 lead, losing four of five to
Dallas in 2005.
The Jazz have never come back from an 0-2 deficit to win a playoff series. They
have lost 16 of their last 17 road playoff games.
(Contributed by AP)