As they say, what goes around comes around.
The Utah Jazz closed out its 2007-2008 season Monday night with another convincing home win over the Houston Rockets, 105-96. The win was Utah’s 37th home win in 41 tries this year, which ties the second-best home-winning mark in Jazz history.
Utah’s home-opener came way back on Nov. 1, when the Rockets marched in and out of EnergySolutions Arena with an eerily similar victory of 106-95. The Jazz would go on to lose just three more on their floor the rest of the way, and Monday brought a chance for redemption.
Utah wasted little time blowing out the Rockets in a win that secured the season series — which might be a key tie-breaker in this year’s tight-knitted playoff race. Utah also continued its dominance over the Rockets, who last took a season series from Utah in 1992-1993.
Jazz forward Carlos Boozer finished with a team-high 21 points and 11 rebounds for his 51st double-double of the year. Teammate Deron Williams narrowly missed his 53rd double-double with 17 points and nine assists. Mehmet Okur continued his strong play of late, recording his fifth straight double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
The Jazz, who have made a trend of starting off with quick leads and coasting through the rest of their home games, struggled in the early going, falling behind by six late in the first quarter.
Nevertheless, Utah’s bench — consisting of Kyle Korver, Matt Harpring and Paul Millsap and Ronnie Price — entered the game and ignited the inevitable run that broke a 29-29 tie less than three minutes into the second quarter.
Korver fed Millsap with a nifty pass off a screen and roll, and Millsap put in a layup despite getting fouled by Houston’s Chuck Hayes. After sinking the ensuing free throw, Millsap scored another layup, Harpring had a put-back off a Millsap miss and the Jazz wrapped up a 7-0 run.
“The second quarter really killed us,” said Houston star Tracy McGrady, who was limited to 22 points on 7-of-21 shooting. “They outscored us 35-19, and I think from that point on (the Jazz) really buckled down, played great defense.”
After the break, Utah’s starters took over with another 7-0 run to push. Anchored by Ronnie Brewer’s 19-footer and an Andrei Kirilenko-assisted dunk, Utah’s pushed its lead from 15 to 21.
However, the Rockets refused to go down without biting back. Houston outscored Utah 29-21 in the final period behind eight points each from McGrady and Bobby Jackson. Rockets forward Luis Scola provided gritty play with 22 points and 13 rebounds and helped Houston get within seven, but it was far too little, too late.
“I think that when you look at this thing, (Houston) did a heck of a job,” Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said of the Rockets, who were coming off of a loss at Denver on Sunday. “They played a tough game (Sunday) and then they came in here, and I thought they played extremely well. They didn’t give up.”
Sloan quickly added, “This is going to be a different team than we’ll see in the playoffs.”
Houston forward Shane Battier described Monday’s game as “playoff-like.”
“It was a physical game, a lot of personal fouls and a lot of free throws being shot,” Battier said. “They play hard. There’s never any surprises when you play the Utah Jazz. That’s a pretty damn good team.”
Lennie MahlerRonnie Brewer slams one down during the Jazz game Monday night. The Jazz defeated the Rockets 105-96.