For now, the Utah Jazz can focus on trying to keep a lead in a playoff series rather than having to come from behind.

The Jazz leads the Golden State Warriors 1-0 in the Western Conference semifinals after winning the opener 116-112 on Monday night. It?s the first time Utah has opened a series with a victory since 2001.

The Jazz had to rally after losing the first two games against the Houston Rockets in the opening round and never led in the series until they won Game 7 on Saturday in Houston. So how will they handle being in front?

"I tell them to win every game. Sometimes they don?t listen," coach Jerry Sloan said after practice yesterday.

Utah won the opener against the Warriors despite playing at a tempo much better suited to Golden State. It was the most points for the Jazz in a playoff game since scoring 117 in the first-round opener against Sacramento in 1999.

Utah attempted 23 threepointers against Golden State. That?s almost 10 more than the Jazz averaged against the Rockets but still less than Golden State?s 31 attempts.

"It looked like we wanted to shoot as many as they did. Some of them got us in trouble," said Sloan, who is much more comfortable with his team scoring somewhere in the 80s.

"You?d better make those. We have no chance to recover defensively. That?s where the problem comes in for us."

Golden State doesn?t plan to change much for Game 2 tonight, other than improve on the 54-36 advantage Utah had in rebounding. The Warriors invited the Jazz to try to run with them again and see if they can take the series back to Oakland tied at one game apiece.

"We know what we have to do in Game 2 to win the basketball game, and that?s stay close and correct some of the small details that we didn?t adjust to in Game 1," Golden State?s Baron Davis said.

Even after a woeful night of rebounding, the Warriors had plenty of chances to win the opener. Utah didn?t take the lead for good until Carlos Boozer scored off an offensive rebound with 17 seconds left.

"We did have a chance to win that game. We were right there at the end," coach Don Nelson. "I don?t want to overreact on anything, but there are certain obvious things that we have to do a better job on."

Rebounding is the biggest one, but the Warriors also need to check Utah point guard Deron Williams, who finished with 31 points and eight assists.

Roy unanimous choice for NBA all - rookie team

NBA Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy of Portland, Toronto?s Andrea Bargnani, Minnesota?s Randy Foye, Memphis? Rudy Gay, Toronto?s Jorge Garbajosa and Portland?s LaMarcus Aldridge were named to the league?s all-rookie first team.