Houston… we have a problem!
Utah’s Joe Ingles scored a career-high 27 points as the Utah Jazz took down the red-hot Rockets 116-108 Wednesday night in the Toyota Center in front of more than 18,000 fans.
With the victory, the Jazz tied up the Western Conference semifinals at 1-1 and will host the Rockets in Salt Lake City Friday night for Game 3.
Ingles made a career-best seven 3-pointers and rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell had his third double-double in the playoffs as he added 17 points and 11 assists. It was also Mitchell’s first playoff game where he scored fewer than 20 points and didn’t lead the team in scoring.
Joe Ingles posted a playoff career-high 27 points on 7-of-9 3FG, setting a Jazz record for most threes made in a postseason game #TakeNote
— Utah Jazz PR (@UtahJazzPR) May 3, 2018
?| Game 2 highlights | ?
Career highs in points and three-pointers made for @Joeingles7 and assists for @spidadmitchell ⤵️#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/FcRihomf2b
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) May 3, 2018
After trailing by nearly 30 points on Sunday, the Jazz put an emphasis on getting out to an early lead. Thanks to a bunch of 3-pointers, Utah jumped out to a big lead and was up by as many as 19 in the first half.
However, the Rockets made a big comeback to take back the lead in the third quarter. But the Rockets had no answer for Ingles who made them pay with another brilliant shooting performance.
Houston was led by James Harden who had 32 points and 11 assists. Chris Paul added 23 points as Houston fell to the Jazz for the first time this season. Houston also came in havign won 24 of its last 25 games at home.
The two biggest plays of the night cam on dunks by Mitchell and Dante Exum. Up 98-94 with just over 6 minutes left in the game, Mitchell threw down a nifty one-handed slam on a putback and had the announcers going crazy. The entire Jazz bench went wild too as they celebrated Mitchell’s monster dunk!
All Angles for the Rookie! #TakeNote #NBARooks pic.twitter.com/NLCd40w0xl
— NBA (@NBA) May 3, 2018
My goodness Dante Exum.
Houston… we have a problem!!!#UtahJazz #TakeNote #NBA #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/VmlnXCTibV
— Fan Insider (@FanInsider_) May 3, 2018
Dante Exum then put the nail in the coffin for the Rockets as he put down arguably the dunk of the night with just a minute to go in the game to put it out of reach.
Mitchell, who is in the running for Rookie of the Year, also set a Jazz rookie record for assists (11) in a playoff game as he passed Hall-of-Famer John Stockton who had 10 back in 1985.
Here’s how fans reacted on Twitter after the game:
Toby was ballin' tonight! pic.twitter.com/kn71TiOiC1
— SportsNation (@SportsNation) May 3, 2018
We’re coming home! Loudest arena in the NBA comes alive in less than 48 hours. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/owca6ziAB5
— Steve Starks (@StevenStarks) May 3, 2018
The @utahjazz travel to Houston and snatch Game 2! ?#NBAPlayoffs | #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/wU2pxZTBtv
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 3, 2018
With 11 AST tonight, Donovan Mitchell set a new @utahjazz rookie record for assists in a playoff game, surpassing John Stockton's 10 in 1985. @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/JjpM6RxKsE
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) May 3, 2018
Love everything about living in Utah so far and watching @utahjazz do work in the playoffs makes it that much better ?
— Kelley O'Hara (@kelleymohara) May 3, 2018
This Utah Jazz team is pretty damn fun.
— SonicsRising (@sonicsrising) May 3, 2018
That was nasty, @spidadmitchell. ?#NBAPlayoffs | #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/5zOiyqIc9Q
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 3, 2018
— Zach Brady (@_ZachBrady) May 3, 2018
Wow pic.twitter.com/uPSPx481OV
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) May 3, 2018
Hello yes dont mind me please continue pic.twitter.com/91DRfJOViC
— Wobovan Mitchell (@World_Wide_Wob) May 3, 2018
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— Wobovan Mitchell (@World_Wide_Wob) May 3, 2018
I’m just chilling here on my couch, minding my own business, and I got called for a foul on Harden. #TakeNote #UTAatHOU #nba
— K.C. Franson (@SunshineFranson) April 29, 2018
In a league where “chasing the ring” leads to stars jumping ship for greener pastures, how refreshing and exciting it is to watch team basketball from this Jazz crew!! What a win!! #TakeNote
— Morgan Scalley (@SafetyPride) May 3, 2018
I started reffing basketball games when I was 14. I was certified by 18. I’ve reffed hundreds of games. My only regret is that I didn’t stick with it and become an NBA ref…just so I could NOT call cheap fouls for James Harden. #TakeNote
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) May 3, 2018
UP NEXT: The series now moves to Salt Lake City where the Utah Jazz look to take a 2-1 series lead in Game 3 is Friday. Game 4 will be played on Sunday.
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