Houston Rockets: 3 takeaways from Game 4 loss vs. Jazz
3. Shots fail to fall late
While most analysts and experts could point out several glaring matters that played a factor in the Rockets loss, one could argue that Houston’s inability to knock down shots late played the largest determinant in the game’s final outcome.
Houston — which hit eight out of its first 12 3-pointers to begin the second half — finished the game without converting a single shot from beyond the arc, missing 13 consecutive triples down the stretch. The Rockets went through a major cold spell in the process, shooting a woeful 4-for-20 (20 percent) from the field on the way to generating just 12 points in the fourth quarter.
The model through the first three quarters was unsustainable. #Rockets had an awful shooting fourth but were still 17/46 (37%) on 3s for the game.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) April 23, 2019
That should be good enough. It's not when you can't score in the paint and the other team has 16 offensive rebounds. https://t.co/k7L9eqwfTi
"“We had plenty of opportunities,” Rockets guard James Harden told the Associated Press in his postgame press conference. “They made some plays in that fourth quarter, and we didn’t.”"
Although Houston has shown the ability to generate its fair share of offensive opportunities by attacking the rim and generating points in the paint, Rockets faithful must hope the team finds a way to return to form from the first two games, as taking advantage of clean looks come winning time will be a vital factor should Clutch City seek to make its way back to the Western Conference Finals.