SUNDAY’s OTHER NBA PLAYOFF GAME


April 30, 2018 at 12:00a.m.

SUNDAY’s OTHER NBA PLAYOFF GAME

Rockets 110, Jazz 96

HOUSTON

James Harden scored 41 points and Houston raced out to a huge lead and sailed to a win over Utah in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Houston was up by 25 at halftime behind 34 points combined from Harden and Chris Paul. The Jazz, who didn’t wrap up their first-round series with Oklahoma City until Friday night, looked sluggish and struggled to keep pace with the energy of the top-seeded Rockets, who haven’t played since eliminating Minnesota on Wednesday.It was Houston’s fourth straight win by 10 or more points this postseason, and the Rockets have won their five games against the Jazz by an average of 16.8 points. Harden also had seven assists and eight rebounds. The Jazz got 21 points each from rookie Donovan Mitchell and Jae Crowder.

Associated Press