The Houston Rockets roll to 2-0 on the season after securing another double digit victory, this time over the Utah Jazz with NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, on hand to watch.. This marks the first time since 2008-09 the Rockets opened the season with back-to-back double digit victories.
The Houston Rockets beat the Utah Jazz 104-93 to spoil Quin Snyder’s NBA coaching debut with Utah and the Jazz home opener. Dwight Howard had 22 points and 10 rebounds, “The Beard”, James Harden added 18 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza dropped 20 points for the Rockets. Howard though, had a semi-rocky ending to his game in Utah. He committed 6 turnovers and fouled out late in the game but not before he had words for the officials as he took his seat on the bench.
The Rockets led by as many 13 in the third before Utah point guard Trey Burke had 9 points in the quarter and led a Jazz run that drew them to 75-72 by the end of the period and got the crowd going.
Houston made 14 of 27 3-point attempts and held Utah to 33% shooting in the fourth. The Jazz shot themselves in the foot though by missing 13 of their first 15 fourth quarter attempts, and the Rockets broke open the tight game with 18-5 run and never looked back.
The Jazz have been projected to not finish too hot this season but played the Rockets tough and agitated them from time to time. Alec Burks led Utah with 18 points, Derrick Favors added 16 7 rebounds, and Trey Burke had 15 with 7 assists and Gordon Hayward only had 8 points with 7 assists.
Game highlights from ESPN.com
