Houston (2-1) at Utah (1-2)
When: Sunday, May 6th 2018
Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Houston -5/208.5
The Utah Jazz were able to seize home court advantage with an impressive Game 2 victory over the Rockets on the road, but Houston returned the favor with a dominating effort in Salt Lake City on Friday. The Rockets will try and take a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series Sunday night when the visit Utah for Game 4. Houston took the raucous Jazz crowd out of the game early and built a 30-point halftime lead in the 113-92 victory. James Harden scored 25 points and handed out 12 assists as the Rockets are now 3-0 this season at Vivint Smart Home Arena, and have won each by double-digits. The Rockets own a big advantage in this series at the free throw line (59-39) after draining 18-of-20 in Game 3. The 113 points allowed by Utah was the most they surrendered at home since the L.A. Clippers recorded 113 on January 20th – a game the Jazz actually won. Utah will need better offensive efforts from Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles if they want to even this series on Sunday. Its possible that point guard Ricky Rubio (hamstring) could return for Game 4, which would take some pressure off of Mitchell.
Shooting guard Eric Gordon broke-out of a shooting slump and contributed 25 points on 8-of-13 from the floor off the bench after shooting under 50 percent in each of his first seven games this postseason. Chris Paul had 15 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, but was just 1-for-7 from beyond the arc. He and Harden combined for 18 assists against one turnover in Game 3. Harden is averaging 30.4 points in the postseason, identical to his league-leading average during the regular season.
Rubio has been doing some agility drills and light work on the court as he approaches a potential return, and Utah has another injury concern in the form of Derrick Favors, who left Game 3 with a sprained ankle. The 6’10” power forward, who averaged 12.3 points on 61.7% shooting in the first round against Oklahoma City, told reporters he hopes to play in Game 4. Ingles followed up his 27-point effort in Game 2 with a six-point showing in Friday’s loss, while Mitchell was held to 10 points – his lowest output since early February.
The Jazz are going to need to clamp-down on defense if they are to have any shot in this series. Houston seemed uninterested in Game 2, but re-focused in Game 3. I can see them taking the crowd out of the game early once again and cruising to victory. Houston is just too good.
Pick: Rockets -5
- Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Rockets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Sunday games.
- Rockets are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Rockets are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Rockets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win.
- Rockets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.
- Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Jazz are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 Sunday games.
- Jazz are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a double-digit loss at home.
- Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Conference Semifinals games.
- Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Jazz are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Southwest.
- Jazz are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 28-10 in Rockets last 38 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 8-3 in Rockets last 11 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 20-8 in Rockets last 28 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 17-7 in Rockets last 24 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 19-8 in Rockets last 27 overall.
- Over is 7-3 in Rockets last 10 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 11-5 in Rockets last 16 Conference Semifinals games.
- Under is 4-0 in Jazz last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 4-0 in Jazz last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 12-1 in Jazz last 13 Sunday games.
- Under is 5-1 in Jazz last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 4-1 in Jazz last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Jazz last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 4-1 in Jazz last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Over is 6-2 in Jazz last 8 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 9-3 in Jazz last 12 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 8-3 in Jazz last 11 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 5-2 in Jazz last 7 vs. NBA Southwest.
- Over is 7-3 in Jazz last 10 games following a double-digit loss at home.
- Over is 9-4-1 in Jazz last 14 Conference Semifinals games.
- Rockets are 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
- Favorite is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
- Rockets are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Utah.
- Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
