Rockets Rebounded Spectacularly after Game 2 Loss in NBA Playoffs
The Houston Rockets and the Utah Jazz meet in Game 4 of their NBA Playoffs series on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 8 pm EST at Vivint Smart Home Arena. TNT will televise the contest. Oddsmakers opened the Rockets as -4-point favorites versus the Jazz, while the game’s total opened at 207. The line is now Houston -5 and the total is at 209. The Rockets responded to a rare loss with an impressive display of basketball in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series. They look to take a 3-1 series lead after the Jazz triumphed 116-108 in Game 2.Jazz Need to Stop Quick Start by Rockets
Ricky Rubio has been doing some agility drills and light work on the court as he approaches a potential return from a bum hamstring. Utah has another injury issue with Derrick Favors sprained ankle he got in Game 3. Favors averaged 12.3 points on 61.7 percent shooting in the first round against Oklahoma City. The Jazz will look for a bounce-back effort from Joe Ingles. He followed up a 27-point effort in Game 2 with a six-point showing in Friday’s hammering. Utah finished with 16 turnovers Friday. They shot less than 40 percent from the field until the fourth quarter. They have to correct this as well as find a way to slow Houston down to have a chance. Donovan Mitchell had 17 points while dishing out a career-high 11 assists in the Game 2 win. They have to get him going again.Mitchell has been a focal point of Houston’s defense in the series. He hasn’t been able to find much of a shooting rhythm while playing at point guard. The rookie is averaging only 16.0 points while shooting 32.2 percent from the field over the first three games of the series.
Houston Quick Starts Doom Jazz
Starting strong in the first half is becoming a signature for Houston in the Western Conference Semifinals. For the second time in their playoff series with Utah, the Rockets raced to easy wins. They were able to systematically dismantle the Jazz on both ends of the court in the first half. Houston bolted ahead of Utah in a 113-92 victory in Game 3 on Friday. They hit a flurry of shots and then took the Jazz completely out of their offense. The Rockets shot 58.7 percent from the field before halftime. They did not commit a turnover until late in the second quarter. They led by as many as 30 points in the first half. James Harden and Eric Gordon led the annihilation. Both players scored 25 points and Harden dished out 12 assists.
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