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Tracy McGrady scored 47 points to lead the Houston Rockets over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. After amounting 30 point in a last-seconds win over the LA Lakers, T-Mac improved his point per game average in the Rockets 106-95 win that spoiled Utah’s season opener.
In 39 minutes of work, McGrady made 17-of-27 field goals and 11-of-14 free throws. Now that’s a great season start for the Rockets and T-Mac.
"I'm off to a great start and my confidence is extremely high," T-Mac said, after scoring over 40 points in a game for the 42nd time in his career. "Things are falling for me right now."
"It's tough to win in the building and we haven't won here in a long time," McGrady explained. "I just wanted to insert myself right away and get my guys out to a great lead and come out of here victorious."
The other big scorer of the Rockets, China’s Yao Ming, got in foul trouble and finished the game with just 11 points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots. The Rockets have improved to 2-0 under new head coach Rick Adelman.
Houston’s latest acquisition, Luis Scola, added seven points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes of action after going scoreless in his NBA debut against the Lakers. Adelman praised the Argentinean for a job well done and said: "I think he's going to be a factor for us."
For the Utah Jazz, which eliminated the Rockets in the first round of last season’s playoffs, Carlos Boozer was the leading scorer with 30 points and 16 rebounds. Deron Williams had 18 points and 13 assists, while Turkey's Mehmet Okur finished with 16 points and 10 boards.
Utah had the better start and in the first quarter they were already 12 points clear, but T-Mac caught fire and scored 26 points in the first half to give the Rockets the 57-49 halftime advantage.
The Jazz kept fighting back but despite Boozer’s jump shots in the last four minutes that brought his team within just five points, McGrady wasn’t to be denied as he had a answer to everything the Jazz might throw at him. With a jumper of his own and two free throws with 2:53 remaining, T-Mac kept the Rockets ahead.
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