In acknowledging that the Houston Rockets were tired in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Utah Jazz allowed not a shred of sympathy to creep into their voices.
They know how the Rockets feel, but they're happy to be on the favorable end of one of these postseason-advantage deals, for a change. Last year it was the Jazz who went into this round of the playoffs after a tough series, against a rested Seattle team, and the result was a 30-point Sonics blowout.This time it was the fresh and healthy Jazz handing visiting Houston a 101-86 beating - marking the first time in franchise history a Utah team has won the first game of a Western Conference Finals.
The Jazz know the Rockets haven't played their best game, but they feel they have room for improvement, too.
"We can do it better," said Jazz guard Jeff Hornacek. "We have some things to work out in practice tomorrow."
Curiously, though, while the Jazz agreed that they hadn't played spectacularly, there was some disagreement as to just how poorly they'd played.
"We didn't play great," said forward Karl Malone, who received his Most Valuable Player trophy from NBA Commissioner David Stern in a brief pregame ceremony. "We didn't shoot the ball well at all. But . . . our defense was awesome in the second half."
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan agreed that his team's offense was off, but he thought the defense stunk it up, too.
"They shot 38 percent," Sloan said of the Rockets. "They're not going to shoot 38 percent ordinarily. It wasn't our defense. You can blow smoke and say it was our defense, but we're not into that."
Sloan repeatedly pointed out that the Rockets were tired, an assessment Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich seconded.
"We didn't have the concentration or the physical aggressiveness it took to win this game," Tomjanovich said. "We look like a tired team."
Houston forward Charles Barkley, on the other hand, cut short any discussion of fatigue.
"If you're tired, go home," he said. "Get the (bleep) on the next bus tomorrow . . . We're not going to make excuses."
Barkley's disclaimer aside, it did appear as if the Rockets were bushed, especially in the second half. But they opened the game as if they fully intended to take advantage of a Jazz team that was rusty offensively after a week's layoff.
In the first quarter the Jazz committed six turnovers, missed several wide-open shots and allowed the Rockets to slip inside unnoticed several times, all of which resulted in a 23-20 Houston lead.
But in the second quarter, the Jazz bench bailed the starters out. Third-string center Greg Foster scored nine points, including a three-pointer, as the Utah subs outscored their Houston counterparts, 15-5. Thanks to a 36-foot bank shot by John Stockton at the buzzer, the Jazz led at the half, 49-40.
"That unit they had in there in the second quarter . . . that's a time when we think we're going to do pretty good, and they (Utah) did very well," Tomjanovich said.
Just before halftime, Malone was sprinting downcourt when Barkley tripped him from behind, sending him headlong to the floor. Malone landed on his right hand, sustaining what Jazz officials said was a floor burn - a description that doesn't do it justice. It actually was a silver-dollar sized blister that kept popping open everytime he'd take a shot.
The Jazz spent the second half threatening to pull away, leading most of the half by double digits, while the Rockets made a couple of feeble attempts to get back in the game. The closest they got was eight, early in the third quarter; they cut the lead to nine a couple of times early in the fourth.
"We made a couple runs at them, but not nearly enough," Tomjanovich said. "I'm very disappointed."
"That was obviously a very frustrating night for us," Barkley said.
Malone led the Jazz with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Hornacek scored 19; Stockton totaled 16 points, 13 assists; center Greg Ostertag pitched in eight points, 10 boards; and Shandon Anderson contributed 11 points, five rebounds.
The Jazz bench outscored Houston's, 31-15. The Rockets were led by center Hakeem Olajuwon, with 30 points.
Game 2 will be played Wednesday (6:30 p.m.) at the Delta Center. *****
Additional Information
Western Finals
Jazz vs. Rockets
Game 1 - Utah 101, Houston 86
Game 2 - Houston at Utah
- Wed., 6:30 p.m. MDT (KJZZ/TNT)
Game 3 - Utah at Houston
- Friday, 6:30 p.m. MDT (KJZZ/TNT)
Game 4 - Utah at Houston
- Sunday, 1:30 p.m. MDT (NBC)
Game 5 * - Houston at Utah
- Tues., May 27, 7 p.m. MDT (NBC)
Game 6 * - Utah at Houston
- Thursday, May 29, 7 p.m. (NBC)
Game 7 * - Houston at Utah
- Sunday, June 1, TBA (NBC)
* - if necessary