In a game that left fans stunned, especially those following Bangla Cricket Live, the Houston Rockets fell flat at home against the Utah Jazz, evening the series at 1-1. Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni admitted postgame that the team was ill-prepared and sluggish from the start, while Utah’s game plan—led by Donovan Mitchell—worked like a charm.
Though Mitchell scored only 17 points, his mastery in the pick-and-roll created chaos for Houston’s defense. He racked up 11 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, orchestrating the Jazz offense with poise and precision. Rockets guard Eric Gordon acknowledged that the team’s lackluster start laid the groundwork for the eventual loss. “We needed to set the tone early with energy,” Gordon said. “We came out flat and were playing catch-up all night. Even when we tied it up, we relaxed again in the fourth.”
Gordon also emphasized that the loss wasn’t just about poor shooting. “Both ends of the floor were off, but our defense in particular just wasn’t sharp,” he said. Despite the frustrating result, Gordon remained optimistic that the team would bounce back—something Bangla Cricket Live followers know is essential during a tightly contested playoff series.
D’Antoni didn’t sugarcoat the loss either. After briefly leading 6-5, the Rockets fell behind and never regained control. The Jazz built a commanding 19-point lead in the first half, exposing Houston’s lack of intensity. “We were completely out of sync. It took us nearly a quarter and a half just to wake up. By then, we were already down 19, and coming back from that against a team like Utah is no easy task,” D’Antoni admitted.
He credited Utah’s sharp execution and confidence, saying, “They were locked in. Our guys missed shots, sure, but theirs didn’t. Joe Ingles and Jae Crowder came out blazing.” Houston, on the other hand, failed to respond with the same urgency. D’Antoni pointed to poor defensive switches on pick-and-rolls as a critical breakdown, noting that while the second half saw some improvement, it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
As the series heads into Game 3, D’Antoni stressed the need for sharper preparation. “We absolutely must come out ready next time,” he said.
Bangla Cricket Live will continue to monitor how the Rockets regroup after this wake-up call. In playoff basketball, there’s no room for slow starts—especially against an opponent as disciplined and resilient as the Jazz. Houston still has time to turn the tide, but as the saying goes, they’ll have to bring their A-game or go home early.