Jazz 89, Rockets 87
HOUSTON -- Derrick Favors converted a slam dunk with 1.6 seconds remaining as the Utah Jazz completed a come-from-behind, 89-87 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.
Utah (35-36) slipped past Houston (35-37) into eighth place in the Western Conference and evened the season series at 2-2. Favors, who finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds, received a pass from Rodney Hood, took one step from the baseline and completed the comeback.
Gordon Hayward scored 22 points to pace the Jazz, while Shelvin Mack added 16, including a huge game-tying 3-pointer with 56.3 seconds left.
Rockets guard James Harden posted 26 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists and a career-high eight steals but missed a shot at the buzzer. Trevor Ariza (12 points) was the only other Houston starter to reach double figures. Reserves Michael Beasley, Clint Capela and Corey Brewer scored 10 apiece for Houston, which lost its third consecutive game.
The Jazz erased what was an 18-point deficit when Gordon sank the second of two free throws for a 79-78 lead with 3:41 left. At the 2:20 mark, Utah reclaimed the lead at 82-81 on another Gordon free throw.
Utah struggled through a lengthy lull in the second quarter, but the Rockets never fully took advantage. Houston extended to a 44-27 lead while the Jazz went eight-plus minutes without a basket. However, the Jazz closed the half with three baskets, one each from Gordon, Favors and Raul Neto, to garner some hope and remain within striking distance.
The Rockets followed suit with a miserable offensive quarter of their own, waiting until the 7:11 mark of the third period to record their first field goal. Trevor Ariza pushed Houston to a 52-45 lead with a baseline dunk, sparking an 8-2 run that stretched the advantage to 11 points.
However, the Rockets went cold again, extending their futility to 3-for-16 shooting before Brewer converted a wild runner through a foul with 1:48 left before adding a corner 3-pointer with 61 seconds to play in the third. After Harden converted a step-back jumper with 27.6 seconds left, the Rockets lugged a hard-fought, 66-60 lead into the fourth quarter.
NOTES: G Shelvin Mack made his 16th consecutive start since coming off the bench in his first appearance for Utah on Feb. 21 against Portland. He played exclusively as a reserve with Atlanta before coming to the Jazz via trade on Feb. 18. ... Rockets G James Harden has been hampered by a sprained left ankle but remained in the starting lineup. He has started each of the team's 72 games this season and is on pace to play in all 82 for the first time since the 2010-11 season. ... With F/C Donatas Motiejunas entrenched as a starter this month, the Rockets are benefiting from his passing savvy. Entering Wednesday, Houston was shooting a season-high 46.4 percent from the field this month while averaging a season-best 23.2 assists per game in March.