It was enough for the Jazz to split the season series with the Rockets, in the 24th meeting between the teams the past three seasons. As little novelty as a third consecutive playoff series with Houston would hold, it would be anything but unwelcome for the Jazz.

"We're confident in us, no matter who we play," said Deron Williams, who led the Jazz with 19 points and 12 assists. "We've beat them the last two years in the playoffs in the first round, so if we have to go up against them again, we like our chances."

With only one game in the previous six days, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan took advantage of four practice days to stress defense to his team, giving up 99.6 points on average. He still wasn't quite ready to give out a gold star after Tuesday's victory.

"I'll buy it a little bit," Sloan said. "Of course, that's what those guys want me to do. I'm hard to sell on that. I've seen defense before."

The Rockets slid out of the Southwest Division lead almost as quickly as they claimed it after Sunday's victory at San Antonio. They had been riding a four-game winning streak, but struggled to get Yao Ming or Ron Artest going.

Yao had 14 points and 13 rebounds, but went 6 of 16. Artest totaled 13 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, but had tunnel vision in shooting 5 of 22. Aaron Brooks led Houston with 20 points but backup Kyle Lowry went 0 for 6.

"They were taking some pretty tough shots, but we definitely won this game with defense," Williams said. "I think coach got to us a little bit at halftime after that little letdown at the end of the second quarter. We had to pick it back up in the second half."

Kyle Korver made three defensive plays in the fourth quarter, deflecting a Yao pass for a steal, taking a charge as Von Wafer barreled down the lane and then blocking a Wafer shot. So begins his Defensive Player of the Year campaign?

"I'm making a late-season push," Korver said. "I'm just trying to help out. I may not be the most athletic guy, but I try to play hard."

Brevin Knight followed Korver's block with a jumper for an 82-71 lead. The Rockets closed to 86-82 after a Shane Battier three-pointer with 5:07 left, but Mehmet Okur hit a runner and Andrei Kirilenko knocked down a jumper to put the Jazz back in control.

The Jazz took a 75-67 lead into the fourth, with Ronnie Brewer hitting a three-pointer, blocking Artest on a baseline drive and driving past Artest for a reverse dunk. Brewer didn't come back in the fourth quarter, but still had 17 points.

"I think that's one of my jobs, to go out there and provide energy," Brewer said. "So the third quarter I got it going a little bit and just tried to provide a spark for this team."

Korver hit two three-pointers in the second quarter as part of a 10-0 run that gave the Jazz a 39-28 lead. The Rockets went more than six minutes without a field goal, including three misses by Brent Barry from three-point range.

With the Rockets unable to connect, the Jazz were free to double-team Yao without consequences. As Yao tried to spin on Paul Millsap, Kirilenko came over for a block. Okur had another block on Yao in the second quarter.

"They were aggressive and aggressive teams usually win the game," Houston coach Rick Adelman said. "They don't usually block a lot of shots except for Kirilenko, but I think give them a lot of credit. Our guys also have to find a way to finish."

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