Mitchell, Gobert Give Jazz Strong Start Against Rockets
Mar 2, 2022, 6:50 PM
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz All-Star duo Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert gave the team a strong start in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
In the first quarter, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert combined for 21 of the Jazz 25 points, which was more than the entire Rockets team, who had 21 first quarter points.
Mitchell knocked down three triples on six attempts to finish the first 12 minutes with 13 points. Gobert had eight points and six rebounds on a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor.
Don 3 counter: 🕸🕸🕸#Pura3Pointer | @Pura pic.twitter.com/pTU7e1dMCz
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 3, 2022
The Jazz opened a seven-game stretch that features six games against teams outside of the Western Conference playoff race.
Outside of the Dallas Mavericks who the Jazz will play to close their current five-game road trip, the schedule doesn’t feature any teams currently in the top eight of the standings.
After this stretch, however, the Jazz will face one of the toughest schedules to close the season.
The Jazz faced a tough gauntlet in the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns in their first two games back from the All-Star break, but see the schedule will lighten up considerably over the next seven games.
Over the next two weeks, the Jazz will face the Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Sacramento Kings in six of their next seven matchups, before finishing the season facing with 10 out of 15 games against playoff-bound opponents.
The Jazz currently own the fourth-best record in the West, 3.5 games back of the Memphis Grizzlies, 4.0 games back of the Golden State Warriors, and 2.0 games ahead of the Mavericks.
After the All-Star break, the Jazz had the fifth toughest remaining schedule of any team in the NBA, but that number has dropped to 17th after beating the Mavericks and Suns.
The Rockets have the third-worst record in the NBA and have been the worst team in the league over the last 15 games.
Houston is just 1-14 in their last 15 outings and hasn’t won a game since February 2.
The Jazz and Rockets can be heard on The Zone Sports Network. The game will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and FuboTV.
