Utah Jazz Gain Foothold, But Playoff Race Far From Over
By Ryan Aston
After capturing their biggest win of the season over the Houston Rockets, the Jazz are back in the top eight in the Western Conference. Still, the road to the playoffs remains a difficult one.
At halftime of Wednesday night’s showdown between the Utah Jazz and the Houston Rockets, the game appeared to be following a script similar to other contests between the teams at the Toyota Center. The Jazz were scuffling, down by 15 and looked to be well on their way to yet another double-digit loss in Houston.
Then, it happened.
Call it a Quin Snyder “Wake Up!” moment, rising to the occasion or just a poor decision by Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff to stop trapping on pick-and-rolls. Whatever it was, the Jazz were a different team in the second half with playoff positioning at stake. Several players stepped up when the chips were down.
Gordon Hayward was incredible, playing aggressive basketball in the fourth quarter and getting to the free throw line. G-Time finished with 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. He looked every bit the part of an All-Star.
Shelvin Mack did as Shelvin Mack does lately, scoring 16 points and making critical three-point shots. The Jazz have been a different team with him directing the offense and the second half of Wednesday’s game was perhaps the best example yet of the difference he’s made.
They were supported by Derrick Favors, who was stellar, scoring the game-winning dunk, finishing with 17 points and nabbing 15 rebounds. Joe Ingles and Raul Neto were also super effective in short stints off the bench. And Rodney Hood, who struggled to shoot the ball, made key plays down the stretch.
Still, the big hero of the game was Trevor Booker, who turned the tide with hustle plays and infectious energy. The Jazz outscored the Rockets by 14 when he was on the floor and the game changed when he reentered it early in the second half. Booker finished with 10 points, five boards and four assists in 26 minutes.
In the end, the Jazz stole a game in Houston, despite a 26-10-8-7 line from James Harden, ultimately beating the Rockets 89-87.
Now, the Jazz are back in the top eight in the Western Conference. However, there is still work left to be done if they want to remain there. With 11 games remaining, the Jazz still have bouts with the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, L.A. Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks.
The gauntlet begins on Thursday night as the team travels to Oklahoma City to take on Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Thunder just 24 hours after their big win in Houston. To say that the Jazz are underdogs in this game is a major understatement.
The Thunder come into the contest winners of their last five games and currently sit at the No. 3 spot in the west. It will be tough sledding in OKC, but if the Jazz want to secure themselves a return to postseason play, they have to put their best foot forward regardless of the opponent.
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If Wednesday night’s win teaches us anything, it’s that the Jazz have the ability to shock us all when they really get after it. It’s hard to expect a victory over Durant and Co., but with the Utah Jazz, the unexpected has become reality on more than one occasion.
So, while the road to the playoffs remains a difficult one, the Jazz are proving that they have what it takes to reach their destination.