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Houston • Paul Millsap's confidence soared as each shot sailed through the net. He ran smoother and played stronger, soon developing a sweet swagger.

By the time the Jazz forward's final daggers were hurled into the heart of the Houston Rockets, he was nearly floating. And as each memorable basket was buried, an arm was raised, with an index finger pointed skyward in the shape of the No. 1.

An inspired and recharged Millsap breathed much-needed life into Utah on Saturday night, carrying the Jazz to a 103-99 overtime victory against the Rockets at the Toyota Center.

He scored a game-high 27 points, but the final 23 were what truly mattered.

Playing through a bruised right hip, Millsap scored 11 points during the fourth quarter and then dropped in a staggering 12 on perfect 6-of-6 shooting during the extra period.

After the rush was over, Millsap's teammates asked with straight faces if he had entered the "The Matrix," then jokingly questioned whether he had taken consciousness-altering red and green pills before tipoff.

The ever-workmanlike Millsap just smiled, shook his head, and said he didn't need to swallow anything extra to enter the zone.

But he soon acknowledged that the court spread out wider, the rim grew bigger, and the ball became lighter during his remarkable run.

"It felt pretty good, man. I think we all get a feeling like that every now and then," said Millsap, who challenged himself during halftime to step up his game after scoring just four points during the first half.

He added: "You feel like you're not going to miss. And I had a great feeling tonight."

The outing mirrored a memorable night Nov. 9 from Millsap, when he scored a career-high 46 points — including 11 during the final 28 seconds of regulation — as Utah rallied from a 22-point deficit to down Miami in overtime on the road.

He brought back the magic against the Rockets.

Millsap scored all but two of Utah's points during OT, and 11 of the Jazz's final 16 during the fourth quarter.

Millsap's barrage began with 5 minutes, 29 seconds left in the final period, with Utah facing an 82-75 deficit. By the time his assault was over, the Jazz had overcome a 14-point halftime margin, winning an NBA-leading 12th game this season when facing at least a 10-point disadvantage.

In addition, the Jazz managed to erase two previous frustrating and disappointing losses by a combined 34 points that had left the team and coach Jerry Sloan searching for answers.

"It says we've got a lot of heart," Millsap said.

"We've got a lot of guys who don't want to lose on this team."

Down 17-10, an initially listless Utah team watched the Rockets soar to a 49-33 advantage late during the second quarter.

But a recharged Jazz team emerged from the break. Al Jefferson scored nine points in five minutes, and Utah used a 12-4 run to pull within 56-50.

The Jazz's defense also stepped up.

Houston was held to 15 points on 4-of-20 shooting during the quarter, and the Rockets shot just 25 percent (9 of 36) from the field in the second half.

Nine consecutive Jazz points by Millsap then gave Utah an 87-86 lead with 1:29 to go.

But two made free throws by the Rockets' Kevin Martin tied the contest at 89, and the score held until overtime.

Then Millsap went back to work.

He slid along the court and soared in the pick-and-roll, receiving a flurry of passes from Deron Williams. Soon, the net was swaying. And Millsap's index finger was about to reach heavenward.

"Paul is … I don't know what Paul is right now," Jazz forward C.J. Miles said. "He's in 'The Matrix' — whatever you want to call it. Paul Millsap: He makes big plays."

bsmith@sltrib.comTwitter: tribjazz —

Storylines

R In short • The Jazz rally from 16 points down to defeat the Houston Rockets 103-99 in overtime Saturday night on the road.

Key stat • Utah's Paul Millsap scores 12 points in OT on 6-of-6 shooting.

Key moment • Millsap scores nine consecutive Jazz points late in the fourth quarter.