Jazz Take Game 3

The Utah Jazz defeated the Houston Rockets 81 to 67 in game 3 of this first round playoff match-up. Game 4 will start at 9:30 pm in Utah.

Game 5 will be in Houston. Tip-off time is set for 7pm.

Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming combined for 50 points. Shane Battier scored 11 and Rafer Alston added six. Add it up -- 67 points from four players.

Chuck Hayes was held scoreless and kept in check on the boards with just seven rebounds. Luther Head and Juwan Howard combined to miss all 10 of their shots.

The Rockets' bench was outscored 33 to 0!

Houston's 67 points set a franchise low for points scored in a playoff game.

The Rockets made 21 of 64 shots from the field for a frigid 32.8%. The Jazz didn't light up the scoreboard on offense either as they shot 38.8% (33 for 85) from the field.

Utah led 23 to 17 at the end of the first quarter and 48 to 42 at halftime. In games 1 and 2, the Rockets won the third quarter which helped catapult them to the 2 - 0 series lead. The third time was the charm for the Jazz tonight. Though the third quarter was a horrible display of professional basketball, the Jazz won the quarter 13 to 10.

Jazz forward Carlos Boozer scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

The Rockets turned the ball over 19 times. Yao Ming committed eight of those turnovers.

Despite going scoreless on seven consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter, the Jazz kept the Rockets at arms' length thanks to the Rockets woeful performance on offense.