The Houston Rockets struggled to generate much scoring in their playoff opener and are hoping to find their offensive rhythm Monday night in Game-2 against the Utah Jazz when the teams play at Toyota Center with a 9:30 p.m. ET tip-off.
According to oddsmakers at online sportsbook WagerWeb.com, Houston is favored by a 1-point chalk with a 184 total. The Rockets are also -115 money line favorites while Utah is getting +105 on the money line.
The Jazz took over home court advantage in their first round series against the Rockets with a 93-82 road win in Game 1 on Saturday. Andrei Kirilenko led the way with 21 points, while Carlos Boozer added 20 points and 16 rebounds.
“We've got to want it if we're going to bounce back from Game 1, said Rockets forward Chuck Hayes.“We got to fight back. After looking at the film and seeing everything, the Jazz just wanted it more. They beat us to loose balls. They're cuts were harder. Their execution was better. They just wanted it.”
Without Yao Ming, sidelined with a broken bone in his foot, Jazz center Carlos Boozer went almost unchecked in the paint. To counter, the Rockets scoring hopes will fall on Tracy McGrady.
He scored 20 points in the first game, but none in the fourth quarter, when he was double-teamed. He finished 7-for-21 from the field and 1-of-5 from 3-point range.
With Utah's defense geared toward stopping him, McGrady said that if his teammates keep misfiring, the Rockets have no chance to win on Monday, either.
"I can be as aggressive as I want to be,'' McGrady said, "but if they double-team me, get the ball out of my hands and we're not making shots, we're in for a long night.''
Point guard Bobby Jackson added to the Rockets' struggles, going 3-for-15 from the field. Jackson is filling in for Rafer Alston, who strained his right hamstring April 13. Alston will sit out Game 2, but said Sunday he was aiming to return for Game 3 in Utah on Thursday.
