Jazz Skid Continues In Home Loss To Rockets

Jan 19, 2022, 9:24 PM

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)

(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)

Utah Jazz Insider

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz dropped their sixth game in their last seven outings with a 116-111 loss at home to the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets were just 6-19 on the road entering Wednesday night’s game but stunned the Jazz with a tremendous three-point shooting outing.

Houston knocked down 22 threes, led by Garrison Matthews who connected on five deep balls en route to 23 points.

Bojan Bogdanovic had 29 points to lead the Jazz but ultimately it wasn’t enough.

First Quarter

With Joe Ingles starting in place of the injured Donovan Mitchell the Rockets jumped out to an early 8-2 lead.

Houston clearly wasn’t intimidated by the Jazz perimeter defense as they repeatedly beat their defenders off the dribble getting into the paint for easy layups.

Dok bringing the 💪 for the @utahjazz.#TakeNote https://t.co/IrBCfI1kS8

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2022

After the Jazz defense began to collapse on the Rockets penetration they spaced the floor and knocked down 7-12 three-point attempts.

Through 12 minutes, the Jazz trailed the Rockets 36-27.

Second Quarter

With Hassan Whiteside and Rudy Gay out of the lineup, Quin Snyder relied on little-used big man Udoka Azubuike and the second-year center was productive in his opportunity.

Azubuike had two points, three rebounds, and two blocks in seven minutes and limited the mistakes to a single turnover and a three-second violation.

🚨 @Chriswood_5 at the BUZZER 🚨 pic.twitter.com/hXCOwWNBQC

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 20, 2022

After a brutal game in the Jazz’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, Jordan Clarkson bounced back with a nine point, four assist first half from the guard.

At the half, the Jazz led the Rockets 62-57.

Third Quarter

The Jazz extended their five point halftime lead to 13 early in the third quarter but from there it was all Houston.

The Rockets found their shooting stroke knocking down 7-17 attempts in the period.

Houston closed the period on a 21-4 run to erase the Jazz lead and take a two point lead into the final period.

After three, the Jazz trailed Houston 83-81.

Fourth Quarter

The Jazz allowed the Rockets to build their lead to as large as eight in the fourth quarter before locking in defensively.

A series of clutch shots from Bojan Bogdanovic and Mike Conley allowed the Jazz to pull within two in the final minute but ultimately they couldn’t close the gap.