USA - McGrady's Rockets topple Boozer and Jazz

HOUSTON (NBA) - China center Yao Ming scored 27 points and hauled down nine rebounds and Tracy McGrady poured in a game-high 31 and corralled 10 boards as the Houston Rockets held off Carlos Boozer and the Utah Jazz to claim a 2-0 lead in their first-round play-off series.

Houston prevailed 98-90 in the first-round series.

Chuck Hayes added 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Texas team.

"You have to be feeling good being up 2-0," Rockets guard Rafer Alston said.

"But you don't feel good because we haven't shot well. You're going into a whole different atmosphere (in Utah) and they're a great home team."

Boozer scored just 11 points on four of 17 shooting in his first career post-season contest in Game One on Saturday, but he got the hang of the play-offs in his second game, scoring 41 points on 17 of 30 shooting.

Yao was nine of 24 from the field and nine of nine from the free-throw line, while Hayes was five of five from the floor and grabbed seven offensive rebounds for the Rockets, who shot just 36% (30 of 83) but nailed 34 of 38 foul shots.

"In the play-offs, you cannot have any mistakes," said China star Yao.

"One possession can change the whole series. We can't give up any runs in the fourth quarter. We shared the ball well.

"I'm surprised we got 17 second shots. That's a big key why we stayed in the game."

Also on Monday, Richard Hamilton scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and Team USA's Chauncey Billups had 21 and eight assists as Detroit Pistons went 2-0 up in their Eastern Conference first-round play-off match-up against Orlando Magic with a 98-90 win.

Coach Flip Saunders once again relied on his experienced starting unit to pull things out, with all five starters scoring double figures for the second straight game.

"We're up 2-0. We took care of business at home," Hamilton said. "Now it's important for us to go out there and continue to play well, try to get one game at a time out there in Orlando."

Hedo Turkoglu poured in 22 points and Grant Hill - another former Piston - added 21 and eight assists for the Magic, who shot 46% (35 of 76) and have lost five straight play-off games against Detroit.

"We just have to play together and fight," said Turkey international Turkoglu.

"We are playing a good team and we just have to execute better and close the deal. We have been playing good, but in the end we have made a few mistakes and they have made some shots and that is what happens."

FIBA