NBA – AK47, Jazz shoot down Rockets in play-off opener

HOUSTON (NBA) - Utah, New Orleans, San Antonio and Cleveland all won the opening games of their NBA first-round play-off showdowns and the teams’ international stars took center stage in each.

EuroBasket 2007 MVP Andrei Kirilenko of Russia led Utah with 21 points in a 93-82 triumph in Houston.

Deron Williams, who is contending for one of the guard spots for the United States Olympic team, scored 20 and dished out 10 assists for the Jazz.

Big man Carlos Boozer was also outstanding for Jerry Sloan’s team, scoring 20 points and hauling down 16 rebounds.

Team USA’s Shane Battier had 22 points to lead Houston, with Argentina star Luis Scola pouring in 14 and grabbing 13 boards.

Tim Duncan, a native of the Virgin Islands who played for the USA at the last Olympics, scored 40 points and corralled 15 rebounds to lead defending champions San Antonio to a 117-115 triumph over Phoenix.

The New Orleans Hornets tore apart the Dallas Mavericks 104-92, with Chris Paul enhancing his Team USA prospects by scoring 35 points and handing out 10 assists.

Paul, Williams, Dallas’ Jason Kidd and Detroit’s Chauncey Billups are competing for three of the four playmaker spots in the American team.

Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points and pulled down 10 boards in defeat for Dallas. Nowitzki will lead the Germans at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament this summer in Athens.

Team USA captain LeBron James had 32 points in Cleveland’s 93-86 victory over Washington.

FIBA