With Their Backs Against the Wall, The Jazz Pull Off a Win

April 23rd, 2019 | by Steve Godfrey

Mitchell’s 19 fourth-quarter points helps Utah extend their season. (Video still via ESPN.com)

“You know you’re down 3-0. But what does that bring out of you? Does it bring out something good? Does it bring out urgency? Or does it bring out something else? I would like to think we’re going to bring something good.” – Kyle Korver, prior to game four. 

With their backs against the wall and their season on the line, the Jazz secured a home playoff victory over the Houston Rockets, 107-91. Jae Crowder set the tone and Donovan Mitchell finished it off with 19 fourth-quarter points. It was as Korver said, urgency and something good were on display at Vivint SmartHome Arena in the Jazz’s behalf. 

Game balls could be thrown around to nearly every one on the roster. Mitchell led the team with 31 points, including a magical fourth quarter, while Crowder went for 23. Ricky Rubio played with his usual heart and passion, but also filled up a stat sheet with 18 points, 11 assists, a steal and a block. Royce O’Neale harassed on defense while collecting a double-double, 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Derrick Favors came off the bench for 12 points and 11 rebounds. 

As they say, the strength of the team is the team. Head coach Quin Snyder even said it post-game:

“That’s the definition of the team, when you put the group in front of yourselves. We have a lot of guys who are willing to do that. Some of them did it tonight, some of them will have to do it next game. That’s what makes a team good, makes a team a team.”

 

Mr. Buckets: The Start for Crowder

As the series came to Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz elected to start small and put Crowder in the starting lineup. The Jazz got off to a great start in game three and the offense looked more fluid and electric (minus A LOT of missed shots). The team stayed with that game plan Monday night and Crowder made the most of his early minutes.

The Jazz took a 9-6 lead within the first four minutes, with Crowder scoring all nine. Remember, he was 4-of-21 from the floor in the first three games while scoring 19 total points but by the end of the first 12 minutes Monday night, he was 5-of-5 with a game-high 14 points. As the Rockets stormed back from a 14-point deficit – six straight possessions in the first quarter ended in a made three – it was Rubio’s turn to steady the team and provide the offense. He went for 11 of the team’s next 13 points.

Listen, if you were to bet on Crowder and Rubio combining for 25 points in the game’s first quarter, you’d be a wealthy man. The Jazz led 32-24 at the end of the first quarter.

Following the game, Snyder was quick to praise the fast start of both Crowder and Rubio. He said: 

“I think it’s the way that they did it: both of them attacked. Jae got downhill and attacked the rim, Ricky did the same thing. That aggressiveness, trying to drive the ball… those two guys emotionally and obviously their play, but their countenance and their competitiveness is something that our team needs and guys really feed off of.”

Mr. Closer: The Ending for Spida

The Jazz led by as many as 14 in the game, but saw that lead dwindle as Houston went 8-for-12 from deep in the third quarter to take a 79-76 lead heading into the final frame. Houston outscored the Jazz 32-23 in that third stanza and game three deja-vus were flooding the arena. Per the Houston Rockets PR team, Houston was 13-0 when leading after three quarters of play in the playoffs under head coach Mike D’Antoni, including 5-0 vs. Utah. Additionally, the only Rocket playoff sweep was in 1995 in the Finals against Orlando.

Mitchell wanted to keep it that way, while adding a 1 in the loss column for Coach D’Antoni playoff leads heading into the fourth. 

Right out of the gate in the fourth quarter, Mitchell nailed a three, his first of the game. Rubio then took a high pick and roll to the hoop for a leaner in the lane. The next offensive possession was a DM spin in the lane on Austin Rivers for a nice bucket and the Jazz went on a quick 6-0 run to regain the lead 83-79 lead.

Mitchell wasn’t done there, however as he then hit back-to-back threes. He had 13 points in the first three minutes of the final quarter and ended with 19 in the quarter on 6-of-12 shooting to carry the Jazz to the finish line. His confidence was high and you could see the determination in his body language to get the win.

It wasn’t just Mitchell, though, who helped the Jazz get a home win as Favors was subbed in late in the fourth for Rudy Gobert who had a few mental mistakes and turnovers as the game was teetering back and forth. Favors has been the ultimate professional on being ready when called upon and not pouting about playing time or starting status. As he has done game after game in a Jazz jersey, he put on his hard hat and just went to work. Notably, Favors grabbed four offensive rebounds late in the fourth to help the Jazz bleed clock and get quality possessions. As Mitchell drove and missed a few shots at the rim, Favors was quick for the putback. 

O’Neale also put his stamp on the game in the fourth as he contested Harden on all of Houston’s possessions, even picking him up from full-court at times. O’Neale has the offensive talent to keep pace with starters and hold his own, but it’s his length and athleticism on the defensive end that warrant him a valuable member on a playoff squad. In the game’s biggest moment, he wasn’t afraid of Harden or Chris Paul, going relentlessly at them in his defensive posture. 

Snyder noted all of this post-game and said:

“The beginning of the fourth we started very well. (But) then we had guys step up to make plays on both ends of the floor. Obviously Donovan had a stretch where he started to get it going a little bit and gave us a little cushion. I thought Derrick’s offensive rebounding late in the game was crucial. And then Royce’s ability to defend without fouling, maintain his aggressiveness and be disciplined at the same time.

Numbers

  • The bigs were big and the Jazz came up big: 52-35 rebound advantage and 52-22 points in the paint advantage. 
  • Houston had 16 turnovers which resulted in 21 Utah Jazz points. 
  • The Jazz were 4-15 from deep at the half, but finished the game 11-35 for a 31% performance. 

In Houston’s Own Words: 

Game five will be Wednesday night in Houston at 6 p.m. MDT. If this was the last game in Salt Lake for the season, it was an excellent finale and epitomized what the highs and the goods of Jazz basketball are all about: grit, determination, team identity, highlight reel plays, and a product on and off the floor to be proud of. 

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