Yao scores 27 to Lead Rockets over Jazz 102-88
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-12 15:27

The Jazz missed 15 of their first 22 shots and Houston's lead bulged to double digits. Alston, who had six assists in the opening quarter, hit a wide-open 3-pointer to put the Rockets up 34-21 with 7:59 left in the first half.

A minute later, Alston passed to Keith Bogans for a fast-break layup, Bogans' first basket since Houston acquired him from Charlotte for Lonny Baxter on Thursday. Bogans added a follow shot later in the second quarter.

While Utah stayed cold, the Rockets clicked on offense for a change, with crisp passes setting up close-range baskets. Consecutive dunks by Yao put the Rockets up 44-27 with 2:51 left before halftime.

"We were doing a lot better on offense," Yao said. "We were able to get quick strikes and a lot of layups. The Laker game for us was nothing good. This game hopefully will recharge us and get us back to the way we were playing before."

The Jazz found their touch late in the half, hitting four of their last five shots. The Rockets coughed up two turnovers in the first 90 seconds of the third quarter, and the Jazz finished a 13-2 run on Devin Brown's 3-pointer from the corner.

But with 7-foot-2 Greg Ostertag benched in the third quarter with three fouls, Utah had no one to match up with the 7-6 Yao, who dunked and converted a three-point play to restore Houston's comfortable lead.

"We kind of fought back a little in the second half," Sloan said. "We got to within six or seven points and then they just annihilated us. Our big guys just looked like they were running in mud."

Yao hit his right elbow on the floor late in the third quarter and went to the bench, but the Rockets still pulled away. Consecutive 3-pointers from Wesley sent the lead past 20.

The Jazz opened the fourth quarter with a 13-4 run, but Alston found Chuck Hayes for a layup to put the Rockets up 86-71 and Utah never threatened again.

"You want to play up-tempo," Alston said. "You always want to come out aggressive and set a pace for your team to play. We were making them have to defend and we were making them run up and down the court."