But that led to speculation that the Jazz might actually sweep the series. Heaven help anyone trying to win in EnergySolutions Arena after losing two at home. But Jazz players did their best to remain hungry, telling reporters that even though their original goal was to win at least one in Houston, they weren't planning to stop there.

When someone on Sunday asked Kirilenko about getting "greedy" and going for a two-game sweep, he said there was nothing wrong with the idea. "I don't think it's greedy. What are we supposed to do — just come to the game and lose it and go back home?"

That's exactly what happened to the Jazz twice in their history — but it still worked out. In 1991, the Jazz opened the playoffs at Phoenix, winning Game 1 but losing the next one. But they went on to eliminate the Suns in a five-game series. In 1996, they opened the second round with a win at San Antonio but lost Game 2. Utah went on to win that series 4-2.

Overall, the Jazz are 5-3 after opening on the road with a split.

This is the first time the Jazz have won the first two games of a series on the road.

Now it's back to Salt Lake, where they are nearly invincible — and where they have a fairly supernatural aura of their own.

Said Kirilenko: "I'm tired of Houston and I want to be home."

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