Scanning the blogs and beats following the Rockets' 94-92 win over the Jazz in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals ...

Brad Rock, Deseret News: "Realistically, this series isn't likely to end any differently than expected, even though the Rockets did win 22 consecutive games in the regular season. The Jazz are too much for the injury-depleted Rockets. Houston isn't going to win four of the final five games — three of the next four, now — to take the series, any more than Houston Control is going to try sending another astronaut to the moon. But that doesn't mean the Jazz should feel good about Thursday's loss. On the contrary, they probably should feel slightly chagrined. They let them do WHAT? WHERE?"

The Dream Shake: "... it looked to me like [McGrady] figured out how to properly help the team without killing himself through the first three quarters. He played defense in short spurts and didn't waste energy chasing someone unnecessarily, it really was pretty impressive. His fourth quarter was actually borderline good, mind you it didn't get all the way there, but it wasn't even in the realm of horrible like the first two games."

Richard Justice, Houston Chronicle: "This one was a gut check from start to finish. Battier finished the game essentially playing on one leg. Rafer Alston was still slowed by that pulled hamstring that kept him out of the first two games. Carl Landry got a tooth knocked out in the first half, but returned to pull down a key rebound in the closing seconds."

Ross Siler, Salt Lake Tribune: "The Rockets became the first team to beat the Jazz twice at EnergySolutions Arena this season, where the Jazz had won 27 of 28 home games to close the regular season. They lost only once at home in the playoffs last year. The immediate concern for the Jazz was giving the Rockets, whose 22-game winning streak in the regular season was the second-longest in NBA history, an opening back into the series. The Jazz also could lament the 13 free throws they missed, five by Carlos Boozer."

Tim Buckley, Deseret News: "Landry, accidentally whacked in the face by Boozer as they chased after a loose ball during the second quarter, lost at least one tooth. He also planned to undergo postgame X-rays for a possible broken nose, but returned to play in the second half."

Fran Blinebury, Houston Chronicle: "A crowd of roughly 50 protesters held a rally outside EnergySolution Arena before Thursday's NBA playoff game between the Rockets and Jazz in support of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint families whose retreat in Eldorado was raided this month. Salt Lake City attorney Bob Breeze sponsored the rally with another planned before Saturday's Game 4, contending that Child Protective Services should return the children in the Texas group to their families."

Video, via Awful Announcing: Carl Landry's game-saving block on D-Will ...

Related: The Internets are alive, 2008 NBA Playoffs