Rockets Obliterate Jazz, 122-90, Grab 1-0 Series Lead
Lockdown. Painting the Way. Closing Time.
Houston started off the playoffs with a bang. The Rockets destroyed the Jazz in the series opener, en route to a 122-90 Game 1 victory at home on Sunday night. They may be known for their offense, but when the Rockets defense leads the way, the squad plays its best games. Houston’s tenacious defense, that became a force late in the regular season, carried over into the Game 1 win. The Rockets held the Jazz to 90 points, and kept Utah under 20 points in the fourth quarter. It was a stellar, statement win to begin the playoffs for the Rockets. Many expect this series to be close, and it still has the potential to be close, but none predicted a Rockets 32-point blowout in Game 1. And this time, the attack came from inside-out for Houston, as they blew by Utah for an easy win.
The Rockets absolutely dominated the Jazz in the paint. After averaging only 33 paint points per game during the season, Houston scored 62 in the paint to kick off their playoff run. These Rockets are more versatile than advertised. Houston’s known primarily as a three-point machine, which obviously is a key aspect of their arsenal. But the Rockets are so much more than a team that lives and dies by the three-point shot.
Utah didn’t allow James Harden and the Rockets to shoot many threes, or at least get their preferred looks from deep. The Jazz forced Harden and co. to drive the ball. The Beard had no problem with this at all. Harden set up teammates on offense, as Houston finished with 7 Rockets in double-figures, a balanced scoring attack that was too much for Utah. Rudy Gobert and Utah’s big men had no answer for Houston inside the paint. Despite poor officiating, the Rockets were banged up on too many drives to the basket to count. The same amount of fouls were called on each team, yet Utah finished with 27 free throw attempts, compared to Houston’s 12. Harden, who averages near 10 free throws a game, had only 3 in this contest. Hopefully, the officiating will improve as Houston advances further in the playoffs.
The Beard finished with 29 points, 10 dimes, and 8 boards. Eric Gordon had 17 points as his consistency continues. Clint Capela had a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Chris Paul put on a quietly effective game, with 14 points and 7 assists. Kenneth Faried continues to be extremely efficient in limited playing time. The Manimal scored 11 points and grabbed 6 boards in only 16 minutes. After starting off slow, Danuel House had a brilliant showing in his first playoff game. House had 11 points and hit a few three’s when Utah was attempting to creep back into the matchup. The Rockets made sure this one had no chance to be close, outscoring Utah 39-19 in the final frame. Danuel House proved in Game 1 that he has the potential to be just as potent in the postseason as he was in the regular season. The Rockets need House to be better than he was in the regular season. His energy is contagious and feeds off on his teammates. House won’t start any playoff contests, but don’t be shocked if he’s finishing games, especially if they’re close. The Rockets know better than anyone. It’s not about how you start. It’s how you finish.