BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Tracy McGrady didn't come up big in the fourth quarter, but didn't need to as the Houston Rockets -- playing at home -- blew away the Jazz 95-69 in Game 5 of their first-round series. McGrady scored 29 points and got plenty of help. Luis Scola added 18 points and 12 rebounds, Rafer Alston scored 14 points and Dikembe Mutombo grabbed 10 rebounds as the Rockets cut their series deficit to 3-2 and forced Game 6 in Utah on Friday night.
Houston Rockets forward Tracy McGrady goes up for a shot against Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko during the first half of Game 5 of their NBA basketball playoff series in Houston, April 29, 2008.
"We're in a great situation," McGrady said. "We know we can win in Utah because we've done it before." The Rockets stayed alive by doing everything that they hadn't done for most of the series. They shot well, hit their free throws and got valuable production off the bench.
"Our guys were really ready to play," said Houston coach Rick Adelman. "We used all they had, the way they approached the game was exactly what we had to have. It's the same thing they're going to have to have going back to Utah."
Carlos Boozer led Utah with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Deron Williams had 13 points and six assists.
Williams praised Houston's defense, but also blamed Utah's offensive woes on poor decision-making.
"They're a tough defensive team," Williams said. "We got away from our offense a little bit, especially early in the game. We rushed some shots. We have to realize what's a good shot and what's a bad shot, when to make the extra pass and when to shoot it. We struggled with that today and it's something we can do better."