Utah Jazz vs Houston Rockets Box Score on Dec 18, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 18, 2017

HOUSTON -- Eric Gordon hit a career-high seven 3-pointers and carried the Houston Rockets to a 120-99 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night at Toyota Center.

Gordon finished with 33 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter on 5-for-6 3-point shooting. With the Jazz leading 91-83, Gordon drilled three consecutive 3-pointers to spark a 15-0 run that ultimately lifted the Rockets (25-4) to their 14th consecutive victory. Houston closed the game on a 37-8 run.

The Rockets hit 8 of 13 3s in the final period to overwhelm the Jazz (14-17) down the stretch.

James Harden chipped in 26 points, six rebounds and six assists while Chris Paul finished a rebound shy of a triple-double with 18 points, nine boards and 10 assists. Rockets center Clint Capela returned from an injury hiatus and produced a 20-20 game: 24 points and 20 boards.

Rodney Hood paced Utah with 26 points but scored just two in the fourth quarter. Joe Ingles added 17 points while Joe Johnson tallied 12. After dominating the paint throughout the opening three periods, Utah scored just four points in the paint in the fourth.

What the Jazz struggled to do in the first half despite plentiful opportunities came easier in the third quarter. Utah hit 15 of 24 shots from the floor, with Ricky Rubio providing an early spark in the period with nine points by the 8:00 mark. Houston struggled keeping Jazz ball-handlers in check in the first half, but in the third Utah cashed in on those opportunities.

By the close of the period, Utah had 54 points in the paint. And while Hood was the only shooter capable of causing damage, he did so repeatedly with five treys entering the fourth. The Rockets managed a pair of corner 3s from Paul, but Utah responded with two Hood treys and three baskets in the restricted area to carry a five-point lead into the final quarter.

NOTES: Jazz F Derrick Favors remains in concussion protocol after suffering a left eye laceration last Friday in Boston. With C Rudy Gobert (knee) also sidelined, the Jazz inserted Joe Johnson into the starting lineup and played reserve F Jonas Jerebko at center. ... Rockets C Clint Capela returned following a one-game hiatus (left heel contusion). With Capela available, veteran C Nene did not play (rest). ... Rockets G James Harden scored 26 points and joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James as the only players since 1963-64 to score 20-plus points in each of their team's first 29 games.