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Jazz return home in control of series

Apr 24, 2008 - 2:14 PM Houston at Utah 10:30 pm EDT Western Conference first round Jazz lead, 2-0

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- Deron Williams and the Utah Jazz are in an ideal situation.

The fourth-seeded Jazz return home for Game Three against the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets on Thursday, holding a two-games-to-none lead in their Western Conference first-round series.

After posting an 11-point victory in Saturday's series opener, Utah turned in another impressive performance in Game Two, claiming a 90-84 triumph Monday to leave Houston with a commanding lead in the best-of-seven series.

"It was great the way we came out (Monday) and not just settled for the one victory (here)," said Williams, who finished with 22 points in Game Two. "Both games, we did a good job of answering their runs."

The Jazz, who posted the league's best regular-season home record at 37-4, can close the series out with Game Three and Four at the EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

Utah's defense has been the key so far, as it has limited the Rockets to an average of just 83 points in the first two games while shutting down superstar Tracy McGrady.

McGrady, who finished Game Two with 23 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, was held to just one point in the final period Monday after going scoreless in the fourth quarter of Game One.

McGrady, who is 0-6 all-time in a first-round series, was constantly double-teamed as the Jazz rotated defenders on him in an effort to make other players beat them.

"I'm pretty tired," McGrady said. "It's tough man, banging with those guys. It's a physical team. (Utah's) Matt Harpring has a football mentality. I had no legs (in the fourth). I was empty.

"I tried to do everything I could - trying to rebound, trying to make plays for my teammates, trying to score, playing 43 minutes. That's a lot."