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Martin's late shots get Rockets past Jazz

Feb 3, 2011 - 5:22 AM Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Kevin Martin scored a game-high 22 points and recorded a three-point play with 6.9 seconds remaining, lifting the Houston Rockets over the Utah Jazz, 97-96, at EnergySolutions Arena.

Kyle Lowry chipped in with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Rockets, who went 1-3 on their road trip.

Luis Scola donated 14 points and seven boards for Houston, which also got 14 points from Aaron Brooks. Chuck Hayes tallied 13 points and 12 rebounds.

"We were close in the first games against Dallas and we were close yesterday," Scola said. "I think we deserve at least one win. Losing today would have been very, very disappointing. We're going back home now. We play six games at home and one away before the All-Star break. So this is where we need to move forward."

Paul Millsap played through a dislocated finger and recorded 20 points and 11 boards for the Jazz, who have lost eight of 10. Al Jefferson also had a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

C.J. Miles tallied 18 points off the bench for Utah, which played its fourth straight game without star point guard Deron Williams (hyperextended right wrist). Andrei Kirilenko (ankle) and center Mehmet Okur (back) also missed Wednesday's game.

The game was tied at 94-94 following Miles' reverse layup with 2:49 to play. Millsap added a layup of his own about 1 1/2 minutes later to give Utah a 96-94 edge.

Scola missed a jumper at the other end before Millsap and Earl Watson were off the mark for the Jazz. Shane Battier pulled down a big defensive rebound with 15.3 seconds and called a timeout.

Battier then passed the ball to Martin, who made his way through multiple defenders in the lane before making a layup. Jefferson was called for a foul on the play, and Martin made the free throw to give Houston a 97-96 edge with 6.9 ticks remaining.

Miles' baseline jumper was off the mark as time expired.

"This was a tough loss. We gave them a three-point play coming down the stretch," Utah head coach Jerry Sloan said. "I didn't have a problem with (the foul on the play), but we didn't want to foul them on the lay-up. It was what we talked about during the timeout, but that happens and I think guys are trying to do the right thing...when you've got to execute and continue to do what we are supposed to do."

The Rockets held a 30-26 margin after 12 minutes of action, but Utah surged ahead in the second quarter to take a 55-54 edge at the half.

Lowry's trey with 7:11 left in the third gave Houston a 72-63 margin. But the Jazz got a three-point play from Gordon Hayward and a jumper from Millsap to get within four, 72-68, with under six minutes to go.

Down by five moments later, Utah put together a 12-2 run to go in front. Jefferson's three-point play made it 82-77, but Brooks' layup made it a three-point game heading to the fourth.

Jefferson's slam gave Utah an 88-82 edge with over nine minutes to play. The Rockets, though, responded with a 9-0 surge to take a 91-88 lead on Lowry's three-pointer.

Game Notes

Utah defeated the Rockets by a 103-99 score in overtime on January 8 this season at the Toyota Center. The Rockets own just five wins in their previous 27 visits to Salt Lake City...Utah fell to 17-9 as the host this season...The Rockets went 11-of-22 from three-point range, while Utah went 1-of-11 from beyond the arc...The Jazz outrebounded the Rockets, 44-39.