Utah Jazz: Homecourt tragic — Rockets stun Jazz as home teams are still winless

Houston's Luis Scola added another free throw with 0.2 seconds left, leaving the Jazz — who missed 13 of their 33 free-throw attempts, including four misses on six tries in the fourth quarter — to regroup before Saturday night's Game 4.

"If we hit our free throws," said Jazz All-Star Carlos Boozer, who shot 3-of-8 from the line himself, including 0-for-2 in the fourth, "we win the game."

The Jazz and Rockets wound up tied at 44 after a first half that basically belonged to Williams — at least from the Utah perspective. The Jazz point scored 21 points before the break, including 16 of Utah's first 27, and finished with a game-high 28.

He shot 6-of-9 from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range, and made all six of his free-throw attempts through two quarters.

Williams also dished five assists in the first half, including one to Matt Harpring for a 3-pointer that made it 44-43 Rockets.

Harpring also rebounded the miss of a Williams jumper and was fouled by Chuck Hayes with one second remaining before halftime.

Harpring missed the first freebie stemming from the call but made the second, tying the game at 44 — and denying Houston a chance to lead at the break for the first time in three playoff games this year and seven between the same two clubs last year.

McGrady, meanwhile, tried to make the half his as well.

The Rockets star took 13 of Houston's 44 opening-half shots from the field, but he made good on just five and — along with 2-for-5 free-throw shooting — had only 12 points heading into the third quarter.

Yet Thursday ultimately ended the frustration for McGrady, who — playing with padding on his sore left shoulder — has appeared in six postseason series without ever advancing to the second round.

"We played with a lot of passion and a lot of heart," said McGrady, who finished 11-of-26 from the field and 5-for-9 from the line. "We kept our composure."

And kept their hopes alive.

NOTES: Landry, accidentally whacked in the face by Boozer as they chased after a loose ball during the second quarter, lost at least one tooth. He also planned to undergo postgame X-rays for a possible broken nose, but returned to play in the second half ... The Jazz have been up 3-0 in a best-of-seven series only two times previous time in franchise history ... Houston point Rafer Alston finished with 20 points after missing the series' first two games with a pulled hamstring.

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