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Houston • When the Utah Jazz signed Trevor Booker to a free-agent contract nearly two years ago, it was done for moments like Wednesday night's 89-87 win over the Houston Rockets.
Simply put, if there was a singular hero in one of the biggest victories for the franchise since 2012, Booker may qualify as the one.
The stat sheet is rather mundane for Booker: 10 points, five rebounds and four assists. But anyone who watched the game knows it was the veteran power forward's presence that turned things around. Booker was all over the place, hustling for rebounds, diving for loose balls and keeping Houston big man Dwight Howard from dominating the boards.
"That's what he does," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "He and I have talked a lot about staying ready. Tonight, it was Book who gave us that big contribution. He and Fav [Derrick Favors] had a big rhythm together. It's a unique thing to have a group of guys that really pull for each other the way that these guys do."
Booker staying ready was good for the Jazz, especially since he didn't log a single second-half minute in Sunday night's win over the Milwaukee Bucks. But Booker — when asked if the lack of minutes frustrated him — said he's been in the NBA for six years. That experience has done him wonders when it comes to keeping an even keel.
"It is what it is," Booker said. "I've seen it all, so I'm not going to get too high or low."
On Wednesday night, the Jazz needed every one of his 26 minutes on the floor. When the Rockets defensively blitzing Utah's guards, Booker's ability to get into the middle and either find Favors or finish himself proved invaluable.