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Boozer scored 25 points and Mehmet Okur added 22 and 12 rebounds as the Jazz escaped with an 85-83 victory over the shorthanded Houston Rockets.
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"It's a big win," Boozer said. "Any win for us right now is a big win. We're trying to stay alive and those guys played really hard, especially without Yao Ming in the second half. They made it a big-time ballgame for us. We didn't finish as well as we should have, but needless to say we won the game."
The Rockets' disappointing season took another turn when Yao broke his left foot in the first quarter.
"I was just fighting for position," Yao said. "I think Okur just kicked on my foot that happens on the court."
The 7-6 Chinese giant remained on the floor for a few more plays, but after landing on his foot awkwardly on consecutive plays, he was helped off the court and taken to the locker room. He will miss the remainder of the season.
"I hope I'm the last one," Yao said. "My last post-surgery comeback, I had 20 (points) and 10 (rebounds). Maybe it's the best thing for me, and when I come back I'll be stronger."
Despite Yao's absence, the Rockets overcame an 11-point third-quarter deficit and reeled off the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to take a 71-70 lead with 9:15 remaining. David Wesley and Chuck Hayes scored five points apiece in the spurt.
The Jazz answered and took a five-point lead minutes later, but Juwan Howard scored four points in a 6-0 spurt to put Houston back on top, 80-79, with 3:20 left.
"Defensively, we didn't come close to guarding (anyone)," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "They got layups ... we were terrible defensively. I didn't know which team was trying to make the playoffs ... We looked like we didn't want to be there."
Jazz rookie Deron Williams snapped a tie with 70 seconds remaining, splitting a pair of free throws to give the Jazz an 84-83 lead.
Following empty possessions by both clubs, the Rockets once again had a chance to take the lead, but Rafer Alston's shot attempt was blocked by Andrei Kirilenko. Chuck Hayes - a 66 percent foul shooter entering the contest - grabbed the offensive board and was fouled by Boozer, but missed both free throws.
"I think it was a clean block by Booz (Boozer), but my opinion doesn't count," Kirilenko said. "I was ready to block a second shot, but they called a foul and ... he didn't make it."
After snagging Hayes' second miss, Boozer drew a foul and made 1-of-2 from the stripe to give the Jazz an 85-83 edge.
Following another timeout, Alston, who had 22 points, found Howard in the corner. Howard made the shot but it came after time had expired, allowing Utah to escape.
"We were supposed to stay with our man, but luckily he (Howard) shot the ball after the shot clock," Utah swingman Matt Harpring said. "We'd rather be lucky than not, (but) that was a letdown. We made some mistakes down the stretch, but the biggest thing is we got a win."
Despite a fourth quarter in which they shot just 21.4 percent (3-of-14) from the floor, the Jazz were able to hold off the Rockets and remain in playoff contention with a strong performance at the foul line, where they went 21-of-26.
Boozer made 9-of-14 shots, grabbed six rebounds and collected four steals.
Harpring finished with 14 points and Williams added 11 and eight assists for the Jazz, who have won three in a row with five games left.
"It's three in a row," Harpring said. "I don't care how you win, or if it's ugly, we got the win and we move on."
Howard scored 25 points for the Rockets (33-45), who completed a 1-5 road trip.
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