Aggressive Rockets gain 2-0 lead on Jazz

The Western Conference quarterfinal series now shifts to Salt Lake City on Thursday. Houston travels with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series as Utah attempts to find another scoring option to complement Carlos Boozer. The forward scored 13 of his team’s first 15 points, matching his career high with 41 points and 12 rebounds.

If the second option is Williams, he will need to quickly shake the cobwebs from a full-speed collision with Shane Battier at the 5:24 mark of the fourth. He was on the floor for several minutes before leaving with assistance from team personnel and returning several minutes later. Battier was whistled for the foul, but Houston continued to win the war.

The Rockets were the aggressors for the second straight game, illustrated by a large discrepancy at the charity stripe in the third stanza. Houston made 13- of-14 in the period, while Utah didn’t attempt a free throw.

Houston also received strong performances once again from its stars. McGrady totaled 23 points and Yao poured in 28 during the 84-75 victory in Game 1 on Saturday.

The pivotal stretch came with the game tied at 62-62 in the latter stages of the third quarter. The Rockets rattled off seven straight points, triggered by a McGrady three and capped by Yao’s two free throws.

Rafer Alston’s jumper with 9:19 to play staked Houston to a 76-64 lead, and Utah drew within four points on two occasions late in the game — the last at 84-80 on Gordan Giricek’s jumper with 3:28 remaining. The Rockets answered with six points in a row to seal the victory.