Utah guard Deron Williams (8) passes the ball around Houston's Yao Ming. The Jazz won, 103-99, Saturday in Houston.

Houston ? Tracy McGrady leaned over in front of his bench as time ran out, his hands on his knees as he absorbed one more playoff failure.

The young Utah Jazz, meanwhile, embraced one another and quietly celebrated after a 103-99 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night that gave them their first playoff series victory since the days of John Stockton and Karl Malone.

Carlos Boozer had 35 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in Game 7 for the Jazz, who became only the seventh team since 2001 to come back from a 2-0 deficit and win a series. They’re also just the 19th visiting team to win in 97 Game 7s in playoff history.

McGrady had 29 points and 13 assists, but the seven-time All-Star fell to 0-6 in the playoffs. The Rockets – his Rockets – blew a 2-0 lead for the second time in three seasons. They won twice in Dallas in 2005, then dropped the series in seven games.

The home team had won the previous six games in this series, but all the games at the Toyota Center had gone down to the wire.

This game was the closest one of all. This time, Boozer and the Jazz came up with the plays to finally break through.

Deron Williams had 20 points and 14 assists and Mehmet Okur scored 16 and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Utah, which is in the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

Boozer grabbed two key offensive rebounds in the final 90 seconds, then hit two free throws with 19.9 seconds left to seal the victory and silence the capacity crowd in Houston for the last time.

Yao Ming had 29 points and six rebounds and Shane Battier had 16 points and went 4-of-7 from three-point range for the Rockets, who haven’t won a playoff series since 1997.

The Jazz will open the second round against Golden State on Monday night in Salt Lake City.

The teams split four games during the regular season.

The Rockets trailed by 16 in the first half as the Jazz threatened to turn the deciding game into a rout.

Yao and McGrady both came out attacking the basket in the second half, scoring 13 of Houston’s first 15 points, all on dunks and layups.

Yao hyperextended his right knee trying to stop Williams on a drive and went to the floor.

After a few nervous minutes for the fans, Yao stayed in the game and promptly blocked a Boozer shot.