Houston Rockets: 3 takeaways from Game 5 clincher vs. Jazz

For the third straight year, the Houston Rockets managed to advance past the opening round of the NBA playoffs, defeating the Utah Jazz in five games to move on to the Western Conference semifinals. Here are the three takeaways from Clutch City’s Game 5 performance.

Despite struggling to discover their rhythm offensively for the third consecutive contest, the Houston Rockets would find a way to close things out in their first round series of the 2019 NBA Playoffs by putting together a strong defensive stand come winning time.

James Harden poured in a game-high 26 points, six rebounds, six assists, four blocks and three steals to help the Rockets survive and capture a 100-93 victory against the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

"“You know, that’s what the playoffs are all about,” Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “It’s not playing pretty. Everybody knows everybody’s stuff, so you can’t trick them. It’s tough. You’ve got to make big plays. You’ve got to go after them. You’ve got to guard them.”"

Houston, which led by as many as 12 points during the midway point of the third quarter, worked extensively to withstand a string of runs from Utah throughout the night, including an 8-0 Jazz run during the early part of the fourth quarter. Harden and his fellow backcourt partner Chris Paul would go on timely individual scoring sprees late in regulation to help the Rockets combat a series of scoring droughts and send their rivals packing for summer vacation.

Clint Capela — who was held to a playoff-low four points in Game 4 — contributed mightily to the Rockets’ cause in the wake of dealing with an upper respiratory infection, scoring 16 points and hauling in a team-high 10 rebounds on 6-of-7 shooting from the field.

Royce O’Neale led the way for Utah with a team-high 18 points off the bench, while Ricky Rubio added 17 points and 11 assists in a gutsy effort.

Here are three major takeaways from Clutch City’s series-clinching win in Game 5.