Boozer, Fisher Lift Jazz Over Rockets
Thursday, November 2, 2006; 1:17 AM
SALT LAKE CITY -- Derek Fisher made an immediate difference for the Utah Jazz.
Fisher had 13 points, six assists and one crucial steal down the stretch of his Utah debut to help the Jazz beat the Houston Rockets 107-97 Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.
  Utah Jazz guard Derek Fisher (2) slips around Houston Rockets forward Steve Novak (20) during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac) (Douglas C. Pizac - AP) |
After Utah's 20-point lead dwindled to five, Fisher took over and showed why the Jazz traded for him this summer.
"We're not going to be able to depend on one or two guys to carry us through the whole season," Fisher said. "We have to play as a team, to think as a team and we did that for the most part tonight."
Fisher's finish and double-doubles by Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams helped the Jazz to their fourth straight season-opening victory. Boozer had 24 points and 19 rebounds and Williams finished with 18 points and 10 assists, joining the 10-year veteran Fisher in the backcourt.
Fisher hit a baseline jumper, made a sneaky steal and then beat a double-team with a pass to Williams for an easy layup as the Jazz scored eight straight points in the final 2:30.
Fisher missed most of the preseason with a bruised tailbone after landing on it in a preseason game at Indiana on Oct. 14.
"He hasn't practiced with us very much, but he's in great shape and ready to step out there and play," coach Jerry Sloan said. "Fortunately, time worked out to where we could play him down the stretch and he was able to make some great plays for us."
Mehmet Okur scored 17 points and Ronnie Brewer, Utah's first-round draft pick last summer, had nine in his NBA debut.
"As long as we ran our offense, we got decent shots," Sloan said. "I thought everybody was alive. Everybody was really playing hard to try to do the right thing."
Tracy McGrady led the Rockets with 25 points. Yao Ming added 22 points and nine rebounds, Rafer Alston scored 15, Kirk Snyder scored 13 and Shane Battier had 11 as all of Houston's starters scored in double figures.
The Rockets' reserves, however, combined for just 11 points and Houston had just 36 rebounds to Utah's 47.
