This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Houston • The fourth quarter, unlike most of this late-season collapse by the Utah Jazz, featured some drama. But in the end, the Jazz suffered another loss, their 10th in 13 games, falling 100-93 to the Houston Rockets.
The Jazz (34-34) trailed by as many as 26 in the third quarter and, despite cutting the lead to 7 with less than two minutes remaining, once again couldn't find their way out of the hole they dug themselves.
It was a better effort than six weeks earlier when the Jazz lost
After Gordon Hayward made two free throws with 1:27 left, James Harden made two free throws on the other end and Al Jefferson committed a turnover for the Jazz.
Harden led all scorers with 29 points, despite having 20 at halftime and not recording a field goal in second half. He was, however, perfect 17-of-18 from the free throw line.
Hayward led the Jazz with 27 points. He and Alec Burks scored 11 of the Jazz's first 13 points in the fourth quarter to get the Jazz back in the game.
After a 3-pointer by Carlos Delfino with 11:07 left in the fourth put the Rockets up 83-63, the Rockets went nearly 7 minutes without a field goal. In that time the Jazz went on a 16-4 run.
The Jazz fell to three games behind the Rockets in the Western Conference playoff chase, and are 1 ½ games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth spot.
The Jazz play two more games on the road, Friday at San Antonio and Sunday at Dallas, before returning home next week. The Jazz are just 10-25 away from EnergySolutions Arena.
boram@sltrib.com
Twitter: @tribjazz
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Jazz at Rockets
Wednesday, 6 p.m.
TV: ROOT