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Millsap comes up big in OT as Utah tops Rockets

Jan 9, 2011 - 6:56 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Paul Millsap scored 12 of his 27 points in overtime, boosting the Utah Jazz to a 103-99 win over the Houston Rockets.

Al Jefferson added 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Jazz, who snapped a two- game skid. Millsap also had 10 rebounds. Deron Williams chipped in 14 points and 15 assists in the win, while C.J. Miles came off the bench for 16 points.

Luis Scola scored 24 and had 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who blew a 16-point advantage. Kevin Martin totaled 20 points in defeat, the fifth straight for Houston. The Rockets were hurt by a poor 3-of-25 mark from beyond the arc.

Utah's Andrei Kirilenko made two go-ahead foul shots with 33.7 seconds left in regulation, but Martin tied it at 89 six seconds later by sinking two from the charity stripe. Millsap had a chance to win the game on the next possession, but his jumper caromed off the rim. The Rockets didn't get a good look at the bucket on a final attempt.

Millsap hit a hook shot to start OT and the Jazz were in front the rest of the way. Millsap scored Utah's final 10 points, including a big layup that widened the gap to 103-98 with 15.1 seconds left.

"I shows we've got a lot of heart," Millsap said. "We've got a lot of guys who don't want to lose on this team, but we've got to focus in and get off to a better start if we're going to progress this season."

Scola had 10 points in the opening quarter, helping his team to a 27-19 lead after 12 minutes. The Rockets extended the advantage to 52-38 at the half thanks to Utah not getting any points off just three Houston turnovers. Their largest lead in the second was 16 points.

Jefferson scored 14 in Utah's 26-15 scoring advantage in the third quarter, but the Jazz fell behind by as many as nine in the fourth before rallying. Millsap's three-point play capped a 12-2 spurt, giving the visitors an 87-86 edge with 1:29 left. A Shane Battier free throw tied it a little later.

"In the second half we just couldn't get anything going offensively," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "They came out and made the plays when they had to."

Game Notes

The Jazz went 4-of-19 from three-point range and held a 53-42 rebounding advantage...Kyle Lowry went 1-of-13 from the field for Houston and ended with six points...Houston finished 37.8 percent from the floor.