Jazz trying to run down Rockets for No. 3 seed (Mar 08, 2017)
HOUSTON -- If the Utah Jazz are to make a run up the standings and avoid a potential matchup with the two-time defending Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors in the second round of the playoffs, the time to strike is now.
Utah (40-24) will not only seek to claim the season series against the Rockets (44-20) in Houston on Wednesday night at Toyota Center, the Jazz will aim to cut the Rockets' lead for the third seed in the West to three games with 17 to play.
The teams split a pair of games during a 10-day stretch in November, each winning on their home court. The Rockets followed their 120-101 loss at Utah on Nov. 29 by winning 20 of 22 games, a surge responsible for their current standing. The Jazz have been in dogged pursuit ever since, and with six wins over eight games, including victories against the Nets, Kings and Pelicans during a four-day stretch concluding Monday night in Salt Lake City, Utah must keep pushing through the fatigue and a spate of injuries that have jumbled its rotation.
"We basically told them you're not allowed to be tired until after the game," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said following the 88-83 victory over New Orleans.
The Jazz were without swingman Joe Johnson (left groin), and guards George Hill (left great toe) and Shelvin Mack (left ankle) against the Pelicans yet persevered in the second game of a back-to-back. All three remain questionable for the showdown with the Rockets, a challenge that is nothing new for Utah.
"We've been doing that all season," said Jazz guard Rodney Hood, who was on a minutes restriction as he works back in shape after missing 14 games with knee problems. "Guys have been stepping up, stepping in in different roles and just playing hard. That's what keeps it all together."
The Rockets squandered an opportunity to close the gap on the Southwest Division-leading San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, blowing a 16-point lead in a 112-110 loss in San Antonio. Houston is 13-11 since its aforementioned stretch of wins, and even the addition of guard Lou Williams at the trade deadline has done little to impact stability.
Houston must contend with the Jazz, Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers before initiating a five-game stretch against teams with sub-.500 records. Survive that gauntlet through Sunday and third place is likely the Rockets for the taking. Stumble against Utah and the specter of a standings slide becomes quite real.
The loss to the Spurs dropped Houston six games behind the second seed, a lamentable result made worse by the loss of forward Ryan Anderson to lower back tightness. His status is questionable for the Jazz, another potential blow the Rockets can ill afford as they strive to lock down their postseason position.
"Things didn't go our way," Rockets guard James Harden said. "A couple calls were extremely questionable and it messed up our flow a little bit when Ryan sat out the second half. We didn't win but we fought hard and we played well."
