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Houston Rockets: 3 takeaways from Game 1 vs. Jazz

By Gavriel Wilkins

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 14: James Harden #13, and Danuel House Jr. #4 of the Houston Rockets shake hands after Game One of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Utah Jazz on April 14, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 14: James Harden #13, and Danuel House Jr. #4 of the Houston Rockets shake hands after Game One of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Utah Jazz on April 14, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Bill Baptist/Getty Images
Photo by Bill Baptist/Getty Images /

The Houston Rockets sent a message to the rest of the league in Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Playoffs. Here are the three takeaways from Clutch City’s first postseason outing.

In an affair where the Houston Rockets sought to embark upon their championship march in front of their home fans, James Harden would successfully provide the local faithful on hand with a plethora of highlights to remember.

The 29-year-old guard — who led the league in scoring for the second straight season — poured in a game-high 29 points and 10 assists to help guide the Rockets to a 122-90 victory against the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at the Toyota Center on Sunday.

"“He’s so good offensively that it makes me laugh,” Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni told the Associated Press. “He’s just so good I don’t know what you do … you’re not stopping him. I don’t care what you do.”"

Houston — which led by double digits throughout the majority of the contest — received several instant contributions from each member of their starting five. Eric Gordon, Clint Capela, Chris Paul and P.J. Tucker all managed to score in double figures, helping the Rockets shoot 50.5 percent from the field and holding Utah’s offense to under 100 points in the series opener.

Rudy Gobert led the way for Utah with a team-high 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell finished the evening with 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting in a losing effort.

Here are the three takeaways from Clutch City’s win in Game 1.

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