The Rockets head into the Vivint Smart Home Arena Monday night with the intent to put away the Utah Jazz, but it won’t be easy. Utah possesses a strong home crowd, an altitude advantage, and a defense that certainly seemed to stifle James Harden in Game 3. Although no team in NBA history has ever come back from being down 0-3 in a the playoffs, Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell certainly hasn’t forfeited the series yet.
“I don’t think anyone is just going to lay over Monday,” said Mitchell after Game 3. “I don’t think that’s going to be the case. I don’t think that’s what (the organization) is based on.”
The Jazz’s unique strategy of defending Harden from behind forced him to finish the game shooting 3-of-20 from the field. Harden also got his shot blocked on multiple occasions by defensive player of the year candidate Rudy Gobert. Ultimately, Harden was able to finish the fourth quarter strong, scoring 14 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field, 2-of-5 shooting from three-point range, 6-of-6 shooting from the free throw line, along with three assists.
“You can say no team’s come back from 3-0, but no team’s could come back from 3-1 and that happened,” said Mitchell. “So that’s where our mindset’s at. It’s an uphill battle, but we’re not just going to lay over and give them a game.”
The game will be broadcasted 9:30 p.m. Central on TNT.
