Rockets fall to Jazz as Yao and T-Mac rest
(AP)Updated: 2007-04-19 11:55
Rookie Dee Brown had 13 points and eight assists, and the Utah Jazz won a battle of reserves Wednesday night in a 101-91 victory over the Houston Rockets, days before the teams meet in the first round of the playoffs.
 Houston Rockets centers Yao Ming, left, of China, and Dikembe Mutombo , of Congo, watch the game against the Utah Jazz from the bench during the second quarter of the NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 18, 2007, in Salt Lake City. Having already secured home court advantage, neither player started. Starter Tracy McGrady also did not dress. [AP] Click here for more pictures of the game  |
The series was going to open in Houston no matter what, so the watered-down version of the Rockets didn't include Tracy McGrady or Yao Ming as they rested up for the postseason. Utah went with its usual lineup, but the starters were all on the bench for the entire fourth quarter.
Paul Millsap added 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Gordan Giricek scored 14 points for the Jazz, who outrebounded the Yao-less Rockets 45-25.
Utah won three of four against Houston this season, although Wednesday probably wasn't much of an indicator of what's to come in the playoffs because neither team had anything to gain in the regular-season finale.
Houston had won five straight entering the game to clinch home-court advantage against Utah, even though it is the lower seed. The No. 5 Rockets (52-30) have a better record than the fourth-seeded Jazz (51-31).
Juwan Howard led the Rockets with 20 points and Luther Head added 18.
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