Rockets F McGrady, Jazz F Boozer out Saturday

Dec 28, 2008 - 1:53 AM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz both were without star players for Saturday's game.

Rockets swingman Tracy McGrady, who has been battling a sore left knee all season, is on the inactive list. He has averaged 15.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists during his injury-plagued campaign.

For the second straight game, the Jazz will be without forwards Carlos Boozer (left quadriceps) and Paul Millsap (left PCL) along with center Mehmet Okur (lower back spasms).

Undermanned Utah posted a 97-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Little-used center Kosta Koufos had 18 points and eight rebounds.

Koufos will start at center against the Rockets while C.J. Watson and Andrei Kirilenko - who had been used mostly in a reserve role this season - will fill out the frontcourt.

The Jazz and Rockets are playing for the first time since last season's Western Conference first-round series, when Utah eliminated Houston for the second straight season.