Jazz at Rockets
The Houston Rockets will try to punch their ticket to the Western Conference finals when they take on the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of their best-of-seven semifinal series on Tuesday. The Rockets lost their last game at home but rebounded with back-to-back double-digit victories at Salt Lake City to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
"Houston is that good. Give them credit. They know how to control a game," Jazz coach Snyder told reporters after a 100-87 loss on Sunday in Game 4. "In spite of that, I thought we just hung in there and took shots and kept coming and kept coming and eventually couldn't get over the hill." Chris Paul ate up Utah's defense with a string of short jumpers en route to a 27-point, 12-rebound, six-assist effort for Houston. "Chris is shooting those shots like layups," teammate James Harden - who added 24 points - told the media. "So he's gonna do it, he's gonna shoot 'em 20, 40 times, as many as he has to. He was extremely aggressive tonight, which we need from him." The Rockets are aiming for their eighth trip to a conference finals and their first since 2015, when they lost to Golden State, which carries a 3-1 lead in its series with New Orleans into the other Tuesday night matchup.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE JAZZ: Ricky Rubio still has not played in the series due to a hamstring issue and Derrick Favors was limited to 16 minutes in Game 4 due to a sprained ankle as injuries have taken their toll on Utah. Rookie Donovan Mitchell is doing his best to be the leader on the offensive end but the Rockets have been able to key in on the 21-year-old, who was 8-of-24 from the floor Sunday as the Jazz shot a playoff-low 38.6 percent. "We missed 22 shots at the rim," Snyder said. "We had our chances and didn't convert. Some of them were contested. Some of them were open. You're not going to get any better shot."
ABOUT THE ROCKETS: Harden and Paul get the bulk of the headlines but center Clint Capela's ability to raise his game has made Houston particularly dangerous this spring. "I've been playing with so much energy with consistency that it just happened and it's been a big part of my game that I've improved," Capela told reporters at practice Monday. "I'm really excited to be back here but I expect (Game 5) to be as hard as yesterday." The 23-year-old had 12 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots in Game 4 and is averaging 15.4 points, 13 boards and 2.6 blocks in the playoffs - all increases from the regular season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Jazz SF Jae Crowder is 2-of-17 from the floor over the last two games after going 13-of-23 over the first two.
2. Harden has made 36 free throws in the series, while Mitchell leads Utah with 12.
3. Utah SF Joe Ingles had 27 points in the Game 2 win at Houston but averaged 10.5 on 34.8 percent shooting in the two contests at home.