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Rockets hope to avoid daunting hole

Apr 21, 2008 - 2:17 PM Utah at Houston 9:30 pm EDT Western Conference first round Jazz lead, 1-0

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Losing the first two games of a series at home would put any team in a difficult hole. But especially when your opponent has the best home record in the league.

The Houston Rockets hope to avoid that fate when they host the Utah Jazz in Game Two on Monday, looking to even up their Western Conference first-round series.

Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 16 rebounds and Deron Williams added 20 and 10 assists as Utah won Game One in Houston, 93-82, on Saturday.

The Jazz, who went a league-best 37-4 at home this season, can take a commanding lead before returning to the EnergySolutions Arena for Game Three.

"I'm disappointed in the way we played," Houston coach Rick Adelman said. "But you've to give Utah credit. They played a lot better than we did."

Andrei Kirilenko scored a team-high 21 points for the Jazz and also helped limit Rockets superstar Tracy McGrady to 20 points on 7-of-21 shooting.

"I've got my confidence back," Kirilenko said. "I don't think it's my job (to stop Tracy McGrady). It's a team job. I don't think it's possible to guard him 1-on-1 for the whole 48 minutes."

The Rockets, who lost in the first round to the Jazz last season, will be without starting point guard Rafer Alston for the second straight game. Alston is nursing a strained right hamstring.

Bobby Jackson scored just seven points on 3-of-15 shooting in his place, while Shane Battier led Houston with 22 points.