Utah Jazz: Alston says he'll sit Game 2 out as well

HOUSTON — Usual Houston starting point guard Rafer Alston on Sunday suggested he won't be able to go in tonight's Jazz-Rockets NBA playoff game because of the hamstring injury that kept him out of Saturday's Game 1.

But he hopes to return for Thursday's Game 3 in Utah.

"I can't take a chance on going earlier than possible," Alston said. "We'll give it more time to heal."

The Rockets are calling the injury a right-hamstring strain, but Alston indicated it's actually a "pull."

"I did pull it, more to the severe side than moderate," he said.

Having to watch Game 1, though, may have been even-more painful for Alston than the hammy.

"I know this team," he said of the Jazz, who beat the Rockets in a seven-game series last year.

Houston missed not only Alston's game tempo-control Saturday, but also his long-distance shooting knack.

"Skip's a pretty good 3-point shooter," Jazz point Deron Williams said, referencing Alston's streetball nickname of Skip To My Lou, "and that's where most of his shots come from."

Alston's replacement, veteran Bobby Jackson, went 3-of-15 from the field Saturday, including 1-of-7 from behind the long-distance line.

"I think it's just a matter of getting shots to fall," Jackson said Sunday. "I mean, we had wide-open shots. We just wasn't making any. That's what happens sometimes. But the most important thing is to continue to shoot the shots they give you, and have confidence when you're shooting."

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