Brewer helps lead Jazz to 99-86 win over Rockets

[March 25, 2009]  SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Ronnie Brewer scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half and the Utah Jazz ended Houston's four-game winning streak, beating the Rockets 99-86 on Tuesday night.

The Jazz pulled within one-half game of Denver for the Northwest Division lead and knocked the Rockets back to second in the Southwest.

Deron Williams had 19 points and 12 assists for the Jazz, who blocked a season-high 12 shots to help compensate for a poor night on the boards, getting outrebounded 52-42.

Aaron Brooks scored 20 points and Yao Ming added 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets.

The Jazz went 19-for-25 from the foul line and limited the Rockets to 12 of 14 free throws.

Utah and Houston, which have met in the first round of the playoffs the last two years, split the four games this season.

The Rockets had taken over first place in the Southwest on Sunday night by beating the Spurs in San Antonio, but Houston's time on top was brief. The Spurs edged Golden State earlier Tuesday and Houston could not rally past the Jazz in the second half.

Carlos Boozer had 13 points and eight rebounds and Mehmet Okur finished with 12 points, six rebounds and four blocks. Paul Millsap spelled Boozer when he got in foul trouble and finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Brewer and Andrei Kirilenko added two blocks each.

Shane Battier scored 18, Ron Artest had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Luis Scola added 10 points and 12 rebounds as all five Houston starters scored in double figures.

The Rockets opened the third 4-for-5 and took a 53-50 lead on a 14-foot jumper by Yao, then the Jazz took off on a 15-4 run. Boozer scored six during the spurt, which included a 3-pointer by Brewer, who capped it by driving around the right side and slipping under the rim for a reverse dunk that put the Jazz up 65-57 with 3:53 left in the third.

Utah led 75-67 entering the fourth and pulled away again after a brief comeback by the Rockets. Battier made two free throws, then a 3-pointer to get Houston within 88-82, but Okur and Kirilenko answered with jumpers and Millsap hit two free throws to stretch Utah's lead to 92-82.

Kirilenko added a free throw after getting Yao into the air on a fake and drawing his fifth foul with 3:14 left and the Jazz weren't threatened again.

Notes: Williams and Boozer received their Olympic team rings during a pregame ceremony. Both were part of the U.S. gold medal winners. ... Houston opened the game on a 7-2 run. ... The Rockets went 10-for-26 from 3-point range.

[Associated Press; By DOUG ALDEN]

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