Boozer helps Jazz post Game 7 win over Rockets

Tracy McGrady leaned over in front of his bench as time ran out at Houston, his hands on his knees as he absorbed one more playoff failure.

Utah players, meanwhile, embraced one another and quietly celebrated after a 103-99 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night that gave the young Jazz its first playoff series victory since the days of John Stockton and Karl Malone.

Carlos Boozer had 35 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in Game 7 for Utah, which became only the seventh team since 2001 to come back from a 2-0 deficit and win a series. The Jazz is also only the 19th visiting team to win in 97 Game 7s in playoff history.

McGrady had 29 points and 13 assists, but the seven-time All-Star fell to 0-6 in playoff series.

The Rockets -- his Rockets -- blew a 2-0 lead for the second time in three seasons. They won twice in Dallas in 2005, then dropped the series in seven games.

The home team had won the previous six games in this series, but all the games in Houston had gone down to the wire.

Detroit 95, Chicago 69 -- Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton each scored 20 points to lead the Pistons in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The Pistons were aggressive on defense, getting into passing lanes with their feet and hands, and balanced on offense.

Ben Gordon had averaged 25.5 points and Andres Nocioni 12 a game in the Bulls’ first-round sweep of Miami, but they were held to seven and two points, respectively. Former Piston Ben Wallace had nine points, eight rebounds and a block.