Game 1 didn't go Utah's way, but Game 2 certainly did. The Jazz jumped out to a 19-point lead in the first half against the Rockets, before seeing it whittled down to just nine at halftime. And after just a few minutes of third-quarter action, the Rockets had tied things up. But the Jazz showed a strong will and plenty of determination as they kept battling, before pulling away in the final few minutes of the fourth. Joe Ingles dropped a playoff-career high 27 points on seven 3-pointers, while Rudy Gobert added 15 points and 14 rebounds.
The series is now tied 1-1 as things shift to Salt Lake City for Game 3. Houston certainly has the talent to turn things around, but they'll need to come out with much more intensity next time out, as there's no question the Jazz will be ready to play in front of their home crowd.
Playoff Series Schedule:
Game 1 in Houston: Rockets 110, Jazz 96
Game 2 in Houston: Jazz 116, Rockets 108
Game 3 in Utah: Friday, May 4, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4 in Utah: Sunday, May 6, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 in Houston: Tuesday, May 8, TBA, TNT (if necessary)
Game 6 in Utah: Thursday, May 10, TBA, ESPN (if necessary)
Game 7 in Houston: Monday, May 14, TBA, TNT (if necessary)
Houston wins if ...
The shots fall, plain and simple. The Rockets are clearly the more talented team in this series, which is a testament to the breadth of their talent and not the Jazz's lack of it. Donovan Mitchell can create problems for the Rockets, but with the shooting firepower that the Rockets have, they're a much more intimidating team to face off against than the Thunder. That's especially true in a series in which Russell Westbrook became an offensive black hole. The Rockets have three to four shooters on the floor at any given time, making them an extremely tough match-up.
Utah wins if ...
The Rockets' struggles from the field -- which could be the result of the Jazz's incredible defense -- continue, and Ricky Rubio keeps facilitating the offense as efficiently as he has been. If the Rockets get Games 2 and 3 Harden -- in which Harden went 4-for-18 on three-point attempts -- and not Game 4 Harden, where Harden went 7-for-12 from deep, the Jazz have a fighting chance. Utah also has a big size advantage, which Quin Snyder is excellent at ensuring isn't used against his team. They aren't going to simply outscore the Rockets -- a few more things need to go their way than they do for Houston -- but they can definitely create some difficult match-ups and go on runs throughout the game.
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