They didn't shoot the rock well, they rushed a bit on offense, but this time -- in Game 3 of their playoff series against the Rockets -- the Utah Jazz played "in-your-face" defense to defeat Houston 81-67 Thursday night in Salt Lake City. The Rockets lead the series, 2-1.

The Jazz held the Rockets without a field goal for 10 minutes in the second half and didn't let Houston's reserves score a single point. Yao Ming scored 26 and Tracy McGrady had 24 points for Houston, but only two other Rockets scored.

If Yao and McGrady combine for just 50 points, it's not a bad night for the defense, especially when the rest of the team scored only 17 more.

"I don¡¯t think you're going to stop those guys," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "I thought we tried harder and that's all you can do."

The Rockets set a team record for lowest point total in a playoff game, three fewer than they scored against the Jazz in an 84-70 loss on May 3, 1998.

The stifling defense made up for another marginal night on offense. Utah was 33-for-85 from the field -- 2-for-15 on 3-pointers -- but had 15 offensive rebounds to Houston's nine and forced the Rockets into 19 turnovers.

"They were the mentally tougher team," Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "They got up into us good. That's what they do. They're a very good team and they responded like a good team would."

Shane Battier scored 11 and Rafter Alston had six points for Houston. They were the only other Rockets besides Yao and McGrady to score.

Game 4 is set for Saturday night.

Editor: Donald