The Utah Jazz eliminated the Houston Rockets to reach the second round of the National Basketball Association playoffs.
The Jazz beat the Rockets 103-99 in Saturday's decisive game seven to win their Western Conference series. Carlos Boozer led the visiting Jazz with 35 points and 14 rebounds.
Utah is only the seventh team since 2001 to rally from a two-games-to-none deficit and win a series. The Jazz advance to the West semifinals where they will take on the Golden State Warriors. Game one is Monday on Utah's court.
In the East, the Detroit Pistons opened their best-of-seven conference semifinal series with a 95-69 rout of the visiting Chicago Bulls. Chauncy Billups and Richard Hamilton each netted 20 points for the Pistons. Game two is Monday, again on the Pistons' court.
Sunday, the New Jersey Nets visit the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the San Antonio Spurs go to Phoenix to face the Suns in the opening games of their conference semifinal series.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
