Saturday’s blowout loss in Milwaukee felt like something of a schedule loss for the young Houston Rockets, who were on their third game in three cities in four nights — and on night two of a split back-to-back. They were also playing a bonafide championship contender. On Monday, the tables are turned, and that might give the home team a chance to get its first win of the 2022-23 NBA regular season.
Yet, it certainly shouldn’t be taken as a given. Though the Utah Jazz were viewed by most around the league as a rebuilding team entering the season, they’re now 3-0 after wins over Denver, Minnesota, and New Orleans to open their season. The latter came Sunday night, with former Rockets forward Kelly Olynyk hitting a game-winner.
Perhaps the biggest variable for the Rockets could be prized rookie Jabari Smith Jr., who is shooting just 30.4% overall and 30.8% on 3-pointers over his first three career games. While he’s averaging a respectable 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, better efficiency would be very helpful versus a Utah side that starts a reliable veteran duo — Olynyk and Lauri Markkanen — at the forward spots.
KELLY OLYNYK CALLED GAME. THE JAZZ WIN IT IN OVERTIME pic.twitter.com/zwmMIbpg02
— NBA (@NBA) October 24, 2022