HOUSTON, April 22 Yao Ming had 28 points and 13 rebounds Saturday night as the Houston Rockets beat Utah, 84-75, in the opener of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Trailing by nine points after two quarters, the Rockets out-scored the Jazz, 26-11, in the third period to take a 59-53 lead into the final 12 minutes.
Utah went on an 8-0 run to make it 80-74 with 32 seconds remaining, but did not score again.
Tracy McGrady, who was held without a field goal in the first half, had 23 points and seven assists. Rafer Alston had nine points, eight assists and 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who have not won a playoff series since 1997.
Deron Williams led Utah with 15 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Derek Fisher scored 15 points, Matt Harpring had 14 points and eight rebounds, and Carlos Boozer added 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz, who beat Houston in the Western Conference finals in 1997.
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