:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59609327/usa_today_10812725.0.jpg)
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 116 - Houston Rockets 108
Who can even believe this? This doesn’t happen to the Utah Jazz. Or maybe it does. This is Houston, after all. This is the playoffs. And for the past 20 years, the Utah Jazz made it a postseason tradition to knock the Houston Rockets out of the playoffs. Not saying Utah is going to knock Houston out, but Utah was one of the best teams in the league since January. Once Rudy Gobert returned Utah was a different team.
Well, here we are game two and the Utah Jazz exerted their will on the Rockets without a big game from Donovan Mitchell and without their starting point guard Ricky Rubio. Wow. Head to the recap for more updates.
3rd quarter
Utah Jazz 86 - Houston Rockets 85
So I didn’t post any live updates that quarter. Sue me. Actually don’t. I make no money. The Utah Jazz survived a big Houston Rockets run and lost their first quarter since quarter 2 of game 1. Donovan Mitchell was able to stay out of foul trouble while the Jazz continued to get big production out of Alec Burks and Dante Exum. The Dante Exum-Derrick Favors pairing was feasting on the Houston Rockets to keep Utah in this game and give them the lead.
James Harden picked up his fourth foul courtesy of one Dante Exum. Exum has been a defensive nightmare for him. It’s amazing. Can Utah pull off the miracle?
2nd quarter
Utah Jazz 64 - Houston Rockets 55
The good: The Utah Jazz are ahead by 9 points on the road despite Donovan Mitchell having to sit the final 5 minutes of the second quarter with 3 fouls. They’re ahead despite Donovan Mitchell only having 7 points. Mitchell also has 7 assists. Joe Ingles and Rudy Gobert are playing amazingly. Joe Ingles has 14 points. Gobert has 13 points and 9 rebounds. Alec Burks is having the game of his life on the stage of his life. He has 11 points while shooting 5 of 5 from the fields with 5 assists.
The bad: James Harden has 11 free throws. ELEVEN. James Harden had been frustrated by the Utah Jazz defense before that point then the fouls started racking up. Crowder ended up in foul trouble. Ingles has two fouls. Mitchell has three fouls. Chris Paul only has 6 fouls. Will that continue in the second half?
Donovan Mitchell goes to the bench after picking up his third foul with a little more than four minutes to go in the half
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) May 3, 2018
TO: j. harden
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) May 3, 2018
FR: r. gobert
SUBJ: lol nah pic.twitter.com/RcBemQPGFc
6:57pm. So evidently Playoff Burks is a thing. Somebody pinch me. Alec Burks is going off and Donovan Mitchell has 7 assists. It’s not even halftime yet.
.@spidadmitchell out here facilitating!
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 3, 2018
He's up to 7️⃣ assists midway through the 2Q.#NBAPlayoffs | #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/R5x78ivQdt
1st quarter
Utah Jazz 36 - Houston Rockets 28
Well ... that’s how you bounce back from a Game 1 loss. The Utah Jazz had an offensive explosion with their rookie shooting guard becoming an All Star point guard overnight. Donovan Mitchell finished the quarter with 4 points and 5 assists. Houston’s stop Mitchell at all costs defense was exploited while Joe Ingles and Jae Crowder feasted. Utah’s defense stepped it up with Dante Exum becoming a Harden whisperer and frustrating the probable MVP.
Houston seems to be getting frustrated offensively. They haven’t been given the greatest looks, but they’re still hitting. Utah is going to have to clamp down on defense even more as they won’t always score like that.
OH JAE CROWDER THAT STEPBACK
— Brandon Garside (@BrandonGarside) May 3, 2018
If that loose ball was a foul on Mitchell, then I'm not sure why the whistle didn't blow on Harden on that Burks take to the hoop
— Tony Jones (@tribjazz) May 3, 2018
People are getting to witness Utah's league leading defense now. Reggie Miller is saying the Rockets are being lackadaisical with their play. That's what people said during the OKC series, too. Jazz didn't get credit for their defense until the series was over.
— “Playoff SLC D” (@slcdunk) May 3, 2018
So you give the Jazz more than 38 hours to travel, sleep, and prepare for an opponent they're actually pretty good. Who knew?
— “Playoff SLC D” (@slcdunk) May 3, 2018
Watch ya head, Royce O'Neale! #NBAPlayoffs | #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/L1o3ribXbd
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 3, 2018
Donovan Mitchell has no points yet, but he has four assists in less than four minutes.
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) May 3, 2018
Pregame
6:04pm.
Friendly reminder that the Houston Rockets allowed the sixth fewest points per possession this season.
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) May 3, 2018
Welcome #UtahJazz! ...sort of #TakeNote #UTAvsHOU #NBAPlayoffs #NBAPlayoffs2018 pic.twitter.com/rZ0fStwpAf
— Dave Fox (@Davefox2) May 3, 2018
6:01pm.
The back story with Quin Snyder and Igor starts at a coaches camp at Duke. Igor came to US for Duke camp. He and Quin connected and as Igor got on the plane to go home Quin gave him a note. It said if I get a job I will hire you. Quin hired him in 1999 for Missouri staff
— David Locke (@Lockedonsports) May 3, 2018
5:55pm. If you haven’t got the news, Igor Kokoskov is now the head coach of the Phoenix Suns. According to Kyle Goon and Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune, Igor will finish out his coaching until the Utah Jazz are eliminated from the NBA playoffs. So basically after the Utah Jazz have their championship parade in June.
Igor Kokoskov is the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns. He'll stay with the Jazz through the playoffs: https://t.co/yeC6oFRrkP pic.twitter.com/XjSz22Nyi3
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) May 2, 2018
Donovan Mitchell is ready for #NBAPlayoffs action in Houston!
— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2018
: #TakeNote x #Rockets
⏰: 8:00pm/et : @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/bydaU8P7qg
Game Info
When: 6:00MT • Wednesday May 2nd, 2018
Where: Toyota Center · Houston, Texas
TV: TNT, TNTOT, AT&T Sports Net - Rocky Mountain
Radio: 1280 AM/97.5 FM The Zone,
Injuries:
Thabo Sefolosha - Knee - Out for season
Ricky Rubio - Hamstring - Out for 10 days
Nobody. Must be nice.
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.