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Rockets look to bounce back vs. Jazz in Game Four

Apr 28, 2007 - 2:37 PM Houston at Utah 10:30 pm EDT Western Conference First Round Rockets lead, 2-1

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) - Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy expected the Utah Jazz to put up a fight in Game Three. But he didn't envision such a poor performance from his squad.

Holding a 2-1 lead, the Rockets look to rebound from Thursday's embarassing loss when they take on the Jazz in Game Four of their Western Conference first-round series Saturday.

Utah held Houston to a franchise-low playoff total in an 81-67 victory Thursday. The points by the Rockets were three less than they scored in Game Five of a 1998 first-round series vs. the Jazz.

Van Gundy did not make any excuses.

"They got up and into us good," the coach said. "That's what they do. Utah is a very good team, and it responded like a good team would. They were chasing the ball down a lot harder than we were. The Jazz were running the floor with aggression."

After winning the first two contests behind superstars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, Houston relied too much on the duo Thursday. McGrady and Yao combined for 50 points, but only two of their teammates scored - an all-time playoff low.

Utah again turned to Carlos Boozer, who tied a career high with 41 points in Game Two and collected 22 points and 12 rebounds Thursday. Deron Williams added 11 points and eight assists for the Jazz.

The series shifts to Houston for Game Five.