Mitchell’s Big Fourth Quarter Helps Jazz Avoid Sweep With Game 4 Win
Apr 22, 2019, 11:36 PM | Updated: 11:38 pm
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder (99) celebrate winning Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 22, 2019. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – With their season on the line, the Utah Jazz had to have a big fourth quarter by Donovan Mitchell to finally knock off the Houston Rockets and avoid the series sweep with a 107-91 win.
Mitchell led the Jazz with 31 points, including 19 points in the fourth quarter. Jae Crowder poured in 23 points, with 14 of those points coming in the first quarter. Ricky Rubio scored 18 points.
James Harden led the Rockets with 30 points and Chris Paul chipped in 23 points.
Best Half Of Series For Jazz
The Jazz got off to another good start for the second straight game as they connected on four of their first six three-pointers. Jae Crowder scored 12 of those 17 points as the Jazz led 20-15 with 6:19 left in the first quarter.
Six minutes into the game, Donovan Mitchell was forced to the bench with his second foul.
Utah went on a 6-1 run to take their largest lead of the series, 26-16 with 4:38 left in the opening period.
That lead stretched to 30-16 with 3 minutes left and the Jazz had a 32-24 advantage at the end of the quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, Houston decided to go with a smaller lineup with Danuel House, P.J. Tucker, Chris Paul, James Harden and Eric Gordon. That allowed the Rockets to space the floor and get open shots on the perimeter.
Utah had a double digit lead before the small Rockets lineup trimmed the deficit to 49-45 with 1:23 left in the half.
The Jazz took a 53-47 lead at the halftime break.
Crowder finished the half with 18 points, Rubio added 15 points to lead the Jazz. Houston was led by Harden with 13 points on 4-for-11 shooting. Paul and Tucker each dropped 11 points.
Mitchell’s Big Fourth Quarter Leads Jazz To Win
It wasn’t the best start to the third quarter for Utah as the Rockets began the period on a 10-2 run before Royce O’Neale nailed a three-pointer. Five minutes into the half, the Rockets had a 63-60 lead.
Midway through the quarter, Rudy Gobert was forced to the bench with his fourth personal foul.
George Niang hit a three-pointer to give the Jazz the lead back before Austin Rivers quickly put the Rockets ahead with a triple.
Houston outscored Utah 32-23 in the third quarter to take a 79-76 lead.
Mitchell drilled a three to begin the fourth quarter to tie the game at 79.
That started a 15-1 run for the Jazz and they had a 91-80 lead just three minutes into the fourth quarter.
The Jazz went on to outscore the Rockets 31-12 to pick up the win.
Donovan Mitchell erupts for 19 of his 31 PTS in the 4th Q to fuel the @utahjazz win over HOU in Game 4!#TakeNote 107#RunAsOne 91
Jae Crowder: 23 PTS, 4 REB
Ricky Rubio: 18 PTS, 11 AST
Derrick Favors: 12 PTS, 11 REB
Royce O'Neale: 11 PTS, 11 REB pic.twitter.com/4lySpeguEm— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2019
Up Next
The Rockets lead the series 3-1 and will head back to Houston for Game 5 on Wednesday. Tip-off will be at 6 p.m. on TNT.
