Rockets Blast Their Own Tune, Silence Jazz, 120-110
Best Duo. Covingblock. Taking the Challenge.
“We know that we’re the only team that’s in our way, and every night we’ve got to take the challenge of being the best team in the league,” Russell Westbrook claimed after Houston’s impressive 120-110 victory in Utah on Saturday night. And right now, after a dominating performance over the Jazz, the Rockets are playing like one of the league’s best teams. James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined to score 72 points, further cementing their status as the best backcourt in the NBA. Brodie and the Beard’s collaborated for a 55% shooting night from the floor, including 53% from deep. Harden is returning to MVP-form, finishing with 38 points, including 6-for-11 from downtown. And Utah dared Russ to shoot the midrange, and Westbrook didn’t back down. Brodie finished with 34 points on 14-for-26 shooting, including a lethal dose of midrange jumpers that kept the Jazz at bay. When Houston’s superstar duo is playing at this level, the Rockets are nearly impossible to beat. Donovan Mitchell led the way for Utah with 31 points, but every other Jazz player was held in check. Houston trailed 66-62 at halftime, but the Rockets came out surging in the third quarter, doubling-up Utah 38-19 in the frame, en route to a surprisingly comfortable 100-85 lead entering the final quarter. Harden and Russ ensured no comebacks would take place on their watch, as Houston earned their third straight victory. The win gives the Rockets the tiebreaker over the Jazz, and gives Houston possession of fourth place currently out West.
Although Robert Covington struggled from the field on Saturday, shooting a dismal 3-for-14, he made his presence felt on the defensive end once again. RoCo grabbed 12 rebounds, and also finished with 3 blocks, more than Utah’s entire team. His defense on Jazz center Rudy Gobert was especially significant in Houston’s stellar road win. RoCo’s length and versatility on defense has paid dividends for the Rockets since this arrival. Against a Jazz team with the size advantage in the post, Houston took Gobert out of his game, something the Rockets have been able to do to opponents’ big men consistently in the small-ball era.
The Rockets are now 8-2 in the micro-ball era, with one of those losses coming without Russell Westbrook. The other defeat came at the buzzer to these same Jazz on a tough, improbable shot from deep by Bojan Bogdanovic. In other words, when the Rockets are at full strength, they’ve basically been unstoppable. Russ, Harden, and co. will take any challenge thrown their way. And for the first time all season, no injuries were on Houston’s injury report Sunday. With 25 games remaining, the Rockets need to get in the best position possible for the playoffs. Houston is now only two games within catching Denver for the second spot, and one game behind the Clippers for the third seed. The Lakers still have a firm grasp on the top seed, with an eight-game advantage over Houston for first in the West. But, as history’s shown. Seeding doesn’t always matter. The Rockets are playing some of their best ball of the season. They’ve got the Knicks coming to town next, which is a gift to any team. As long as Houston doesn’t overlook New York, the Rockets won’t get in their own way, and should have no trouble adding another win… further instilling their claim in the debate over who’s the best team in the NBA.