By Michael Levine

May 5, 2007: SCOREBOARD | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Deron Williams and Tracy McGrady are on the opposite ends of the emotional spectrum: elation and deflation. Ronald Martinez/Getty/NBAE
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"I said 'this team is gonna go as far as I take them' and, you know, I tried my best. I tried, man. Maybe I could have made the extra play here, maybe I could have gotten those loose rebounds that we needed in the fourth quarter that we didn't get down the stretch of the game, maybe I could have done more. But it didn't happen."
-- A tearful Tracy McGrady at the postgame press conference.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Saturday's top play: Luol Deng serves up the facial on Jason Maxiell.
  • Haier Play of the Day
  • Dunk of the Night
  • Block of the Night
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  • Assist of the Night
  • Steal of the Night
  • NBA TV Top 10
    • NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
    A pair of Game 1s means a fresh start for Drive to the Finals strategy. On Sunday, stay away from any Suns or Spurs until you see how that series begins to play out. If you were smart enough to avoid using the Nets' big trio in the first round, now might be the time. Jason Kidd had a huge series against Toronto, and should take advantage of the Cavs' point guards. Check with the experts.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Carlos Boozer, Jazz
    103-99 win at Rockets
    35 pts, 13-23 FG, 9-12 FT

    Yao Ming, Rockets
    103-99 loss vs. Jazz
    29 pts, 9-20 FG, 11-13 FT

    Chauncey Billups, Pistons
    95-69 win vs. Bulls
    20 pts, 7-14 FG, 3-5 3-pt FG

    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    Tracy McGrady did his best to get the Rockets out of the first round on Saturday night. In fact, it's hard to imagine him doing much more for his team. T-Mac racked up 29 points, five rebounds, 13 assists and three blocked shots, but opted not to foul with Houston down in the closing seconds of a 103-99 Game 7 defeat to the visiting Jazz. McGrady has yet to win a playoff series in his otherwise illustrious 10-year career.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    Ben Gordon, Bulls
    95-69 loss at Pistons
    2-9 FG, 1-5 3-pt FG, 7 pts

    Chris Duhon, Bulls
    95-69 loss at Pistons
    1-7 FG, 1-4 3-pt FG, 5 pts

    Andres Nocioni, Bulls
    95-69 loss at Pistons
    1-8 FG, 0-4 3-pt FG, 2 pts
    JAZZ BAND IS MARCHING ON
    Anybody who plays poker knows that three of a kind beats a pair. Utah showed that to be true in Game 7 on Saturday, as Carlos Boozer (35 points, 14 rebounds), Deron Williams (20 points, 14 assists) and Mehmet Okur (16 points, 11 rebounds) outshined the stellar Houston duo of Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming (29 points apiece). The Rockets overcame a 16-point deficit to take a late lead, but big plays from Boozer and a poor decision by McGrady and Shane Battier helped Utah prevail, 103-99, to set up a second-round matchup with the Warriors.
    WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES
    See how quickly things can change? Actually, it wasn't all that quick. Six days after dispatching the 2006 champs in a resounding first-round series sweep, Big Ben Wallace and the Bulls had their proverbial clock cleaned by Detroit in Game 1 of the conference semifinals. Chicago was held to a playoff franchise-low 69 points on 32.9 percent shooting, while the Pistons once again had five players reach double digits in an emphatic 26-point triumph. Rust can't be an excuse because Detroit hadn't played since last Saturday, one day earlier than the Bulls' last game.