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This is the new version of the Game Thread. This is the Live Thread. You’re still able to overreact in the comments, claim that Tim Duncan was a center, and that Karl Malone was the best Power Forward of all-time; only now you can get live game updates from pregame to Postgame with everything in between.
4th quarter
Utah Jazz 96 - Houston Rockets 110
The Utah Jazz won the last two quarters of this game after their atrocious 1st half start. There’s some things to work on—a lot of things—but Utah’s play in the second half should be encouraging. One thing to keep an eye on is Donovan Mitchell’s ankle. Hopefully that doesn’t flare up.
Ne(a)to pic.twitter.com/bqmuwW01nn
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 29, 2018
Derrick Favors talked after the first-round series about how sometimes Gobert has to sacrifice and sometimes he has to sacrifice. This might be a series where he has to sacrifice.
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) April 29, 2018
3rd Quarter
Utah Jazz 68 - Houston Rockets 86
The Utah Jazz won that quarter through the play of Dante Exum and Alec Burks. Raul Neto even got some action in that quarter. Utah might have found something with Dante Exum off ball with Raul Neto. The defense has stepped up a tich and the Jazz look like they belong on the same court as these guys. It probably isn’t going to matter much in this game, but if Utah can find their Rubio replacement in this game, it’ll prove to be worth all the pain and suffering of a blowout.
Pt II: #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/iG8UpnC5vk
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 29, 2018
Mitchell's really freaking good
— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) April 29, 2018
Alec Burks with a nice layup there.
— “Playoff SLC D” (@slcdunk) April 29, 2018
when you're out and you see someone you haven't seen in five years pic.twitter.com/1PTzBFSDc1
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 29, 2018
What a slam from @CapelaClint! @RGVVipers ➡️ @HoustonRockets #GLeagueAlum pic.twitter.com/0TTitv3n6B
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) April 29, 2018
The Jazz trail the Rockets 72-50 with 6:59 remaining in the third quarter
— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) April 29, 2018
Halfway through Game 1 of the Western Conference semis, and this is for certain: As good as Russell Westbrook is, the gap between him and James Harden is canyon sized. Russ isn't anywhere near as good as Beard is
— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) April 29, 2018
2nd Quarter
Utah Jazz 39 - Houston Rockets 64
James Harden is going off. He already has 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. Chris Paul is also going off, he has 14 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists. The Utah Jazz defense is a mess. They’re struggling to shut down space. Houston is repeatedly, possession after possession, getting the matchup that they want. Rudy Gobert doesn’t even look like he’s arrived to Houston.
Dante Exum has played some strong minutes in this game, but that’s about it. Not a lot to salvage from that terrible first half.
It's almost as if the Rockets were the best team in the NBA this season.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) April 29, 2018
Moving on to Game 2
— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) April 29, 2018
Just caught up on Jazz/Rockets. As suspected, Jazz appear to have few answers to Houston's switching so far.
— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) April 29, 2018
Good minutes tonight from Dante Exum
— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) April 29, 2018
Dante Exum is running the offense well. Might be the answer for no Rubio.
— “Playoff SLC D” (@slcdunk) April 29, 2018
1st Quarter
Utah Jazz 21 - Houston Rockets 34
Well ... that didn’t go well. We had said that the 1st game of this series would probably be a fact finding mission for this Jazz coaching staff as they figure out how to adjust without Rubio and this Rockets buzzsaw. The first half couldn’t have gone any worse for Utah. Alec Burks was 0-4 as he got the first burn and tried to replace Ricky Rubio’s minutes. Dante Exum will probably be next up in the Ricky Rubio replacement tryouts in the second half.
Donovan Mitchell was the only Jazz player able to create his own offense. Jae crowder came off the bench and has hit a few threes, but he’s been struggling on the defensive end. Utah is going to be looking not to get blown out in this game. Houston has the talent of OKC with the discipline of Utah. Can Utah’s defense put the clamps down?
Harden a déjà activé le mode cooking, déjà 12 points pic.twitter.com/RctTYn1Jh3
— Basket-Infos (@Basket_Infos) April 29, 2018
Barring garbage time, Dante Exum may be done for the 2017-18 campaign. I know most reports still have Utah very high on him, but his free agency still interests me.
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) April 29, 2018
️ #MACU3 pic.twitter.com/VatwfMclWH
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 29, 2018
Harden is ridiculous
— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) April 29, 2018
Ah yes, our first "James Harden has kind of hacked basketball with an annoying whistle that yeah is a foul by the rule book but could not be more eye-rolling" of the series at the 10:50 mark.
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) April 29, 2018
Pregame
ABC/ESPN’s Mark Jones told me if he could vote again for ROY he would vote for Donovan Mitchell after what the rookie did against MVP in Game 6. #takenote
— kristen kenney (@kristenkenney) April 29, 2018
Just ate an orange.
— Taco Trey Kerby (@treykerby) April 29, 2018
mike d’antoni on whether joe johnson helps them scout the jazz: “if he were in the locker room today, and could tell us what’s happening, that might help. but i’m doubting that would happen.”
— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) April 29, 2018
Quin Snyder says Royce O’Neale will start in the place of Ricky Rubio.
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) April 29, 2018
Just Igor Kokoskov and Jimmy Goldstein making each other laugh (sorry for the bad photo, I’m on the other side of the court) pic.twitter.com/eLIeBd2k7a
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) April 29, 2018
Game Info
When: 1:30MT • Sunday April 29th, 2018
Where: Vivint Arena • Salt Lake City, Utah
TV: ABC, AT&T Sports Net - Rocky Mountain
Radio: 1280 AM/97.5 FM The Zone, ESPN Radio
Injuries:
Thabo Sefolosha - Knee - Out for season
Ricky Rubio - Hamstring - Out for 10 days
Luc Mbah a Moute - Shoulder - Upgraded to Active
Ground Rules
Welcome to the SLC Dunk Live Thread. This is new as we’ll have game updates throughout it. Dunkers know how this thing works, but for you lurkers ready to make the jump to Dunker, we have a few guidelines. Remember to follow our community guidelines (no swearing, trolling, excessive use of Jerry Sloan’s name in vain, no personal attacks, no debates about Utah liquor laws, etc.). Remember to have fun. Anyone who dare blasphemes that Tim Duncan was a Power Forward or John Stockton is not the best point guard of all-time will receive an automatic ban. Just kidding. But seriously.