The Houston Rockets made a statement in Game 1 of their first-round series with the Utah Jazz, leading for the majority of the contest and fighting off several Jazz runs before stepping their foot on the gas in the second half for a 122-90 win.
James Harden led the way for the Rockets with 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists, and he controlled the game with his passing, despite Utah’s efforts to move him to his right. Harden constantly found the open man or got to the bucket, and Utah’s going to need to re-assess how they guard him moving forward.