Heartbreak Houston Part Deux: Jazz Stun Rockets at the Buzzer, 114-113
‘Viched. Crush City. Relauch.
In a stunner, the Rockets lost at the buzzer for the second time at home this season, falling to the Jazz, 114-113 on Sunday night. It’s also the second time this season Houston’s had a 2-point lead with under 2 seconds remaining in a game, and lost. The Rockets failure to deny a perimeter shot at all costs, cost them a game again. This time, it was Bojan Bogdanovic who delivered the final dagger for Utah. Houston actually defended the final play well, with P.J. Tucker and James Harden contesting the shot. Nonetheless, Bojan knocked down the tough shot, and the Rockets got ‘viched at the buzzer. Harden had a triple-double with 28 points, 10 boards , and 10 assists. Westbrook continues to be the Rockets best player, tallying 39 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 dimes, but none of it matters. Houston has to learn how to close out teams. It’s a trait all championship contenders possess, and one the Rockets currently lack. Houston had a chance to extinguish Utah’s chances earlier in the game, but let the Jazz hang around until it was too late.
After Sunday’s loss to the Jazz, this season has felt more and more like the year of crushing defeats. Houston seems to lose in heartbreaking fashion, or to the league’s bottom-feeders. It’s been a tough season, but there’s still 29 games to go, with one more remaining before the All-Star break. The Rockets close out the break against another tough opponent, the Boston Celtics, on Tuesday night at Toyota Center.
Houston needs a relaunch after Sunday’s stunner. Eric Gordon didn’t play, and he’ll remain out until after the All-Star break. EG’s absence was sorley felt on Sunday. The Jazz got layups with ease as the Rockets’ perimeter defense suffered without Splash Gordon in the lineup. EG won’t be around to help Houston against Boston. The Rockets will need to prepare to get up-and-down with a versatile and deep Celtics team. If Houston gets the chance, they need to close the C’s out early, otherwise a stunner at the buzzer could potentially loom… they say bad things come in three’s.