NBA 2022-23: Now not unbeaten, Utah Jazz to hunt revenge on Houston Rockets

The Utah Jazz wouldn’t have to attend lengthy for a shot at avenging their first lack of the season.

In a rematch of Monday’s recreation at Houston, a 114-108 win for the Rockets, the Jazz will host the second leg of a home-and-home Wednesday evening in Salt Lake Metropolis.

Utah no less than may have a day of relaxation coming into the rematch. They performed the earlier recreation on the second evening of a street back-to-back that started Sunday in New Orleans.

“I believed there was some fatigue,” Jazz coach Will Hardy mentioned after his new staff’s first loss in 4 outings. “We performed flat within the first half and responded within the second half. I feel a break day (Tuesday) shall be very useful for us. … We’re studying so much about our staff as they go.”

Sunday’s victory was the primary of the 2022-23 marketing campaign for Houston, which eked out a win after seeing a 10-point lead vanish. The Rockets took benefit of the weary Jazz down the stretch due to a go-ahead Eric Gordon layup with 1:23 left adopted by 4 clutch free throws within the ultimate 24.5 seconds by rookie Jabari Smith Jr.

Kevin Porter Jr. led Houston with 26 factors and 10 rebounds, Jalen Inexperienced scored 25 and Smith, the third general choose of the 2022 NBA Draft, had an all-around stable efficiency with 21 factors, 9 rebounds and three blocked photographs.

“We wanted one (win), clearly,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas mentioned. “And the best way we did it the place we had been combating, and we had some adversity and we fought again. They tied the sport a few occasions, however we didn’t break.”

Jordan Clarkson led seven Utah gamers in double figures with 17 factors. Lauri Markkanen missed all six 3-point makes an attempt en path to 14 factors, whereas Jarred Vanderbilt (11 rebounds), Kelly Olynyk (9 rebounds) and Simone Fontecchio every scored 13.

The Jazz bought off to a gradual begin, solely scoring 18 factors within the first quarter and 45 by halftime, earlier than making a powerful push within the second half. That got here an evening after Utah held on for an additional time win over the Pelicans in New Orleans.

“We knew they had been coming off a back-to-back, so our entire recreation plan was to make them run,” Porter mentioned. “We wanted excessive power, we wanted momentum, and that’s what we did.”

The loss got here after Utah impressively opened the season with three shocking wins.

“It was obvious fairly early we weren’t the identical bodily, aggressive, flying-around staff that we have now been,” Hardy mentioned. “We’ve bought to seek out methods to try this earlier. While you play the whole first half a little bit bit flat, you permit your self in a scenario the place some issues cannot go your means.”

Inexperienced mentioned a tense alternate he had with Smith within the waning moments of Monday’s recreation was a lot ado about nothing.

“It was nothing. Nothing in any respect, simply the warmth of the second,” Inexperienced mentioned. “All that issues is that we went out and gained the sport.”