Rockets beat Jazz for third straight win
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-03 14:45

Tracy McGrady scored 25 points to help the Houston Rockets to their third straight victory, 99-80 over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.

Utah Jazz forward Mehmet Okur (13) of Turkey and Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (11) of China tangle in the fourth quarter of the Rockets 99-80 win Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005, in Houston. [AP]

Bob Sura tied season-highs with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five steals for the Rockets, who won for the 10th time in their last 14 games.

Early in the third quarter, Houston went on an 23-4 run that included four three-point plays, two by Yao Ming and one each by Sura and Juwan Howard.

Gordon Giricek had 15 points to lead five double-figure scorers for the Jazz, who lost their fifth straight.

After six lead changes and seven ties the first quarter, Houston went on an 8-0 run at the end of the period to finish with a 26-23 lead. McGrady had 10, including a 3 at the buzzer.

Utah scored the first seven points of the second quarter, but Sura brought the Rockets back by scoring seven points in a 9-2 run to take a 35-32 lead.

Giricek scored 11 in the first half to stake the Jazz to a 46-44 halftime lead.

The win put Houston over the .500 mark (16-15) for only the second time this season. The first was at 3-2 on Nov. 9.

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