UTAH – Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz got his revenge on Jalen Green of Houston Rockets in the second encounter of two Filipino-American cagers in the 2022-2023 NBA Season on Wednesday night (Thursday in the Philippines).
Clarkson scored 20 points, including five three-point connections, to go with six assists and five rebounds as the Jazz scored a 109-101 win over the Rockets at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.
From a 22-21 score after the opening quarter, the Jazz got huge conversions from Clarkson, Talen Horton-Tucker, Lauri Markkanen and Mike Conley in the second quarter as they surged to a 61-49 halftime lead.
Clarkson continued his torrid shooting in the third quarter with three consecutive triples followed by a two-pointer followed by baskets from Malik Beasley and Rudy Gay as the lead went up to 89-73.
The Rockets made a strong run in the fourth quarter as they cut the deficit to 98-103 late in the game but a huge triple by Beasley followed by free throws by Conley and Beasley sealed the win for the Jazz.
Markkanen tallied 24 points and nine rebounds, Horton-Tucker and Beasley had 14 markers apiece, while Conley ended with 13 as the Jazz improved to 4-1 win-loss slate.
Kevin Porter Jr. top-scored with 24 points, Green and Eric Gordon chipped in 17 and 16 markers, respectively, while Kenyon Martin Jr. and Garrison Mathews had 11 each as the Rockets dropped to 1-4.
Green and the Rockets got the better of Clarkson and the Jazz during their first meeting, 103-98, on Monday night (Tuesday in the Philippines) at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Meanwhile, Denver Nuggets (3-2) send Los Angeles Lakers to an 0-4 start this season with a 110-99 domination at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Nikola Jokić flirted with triple-double with 31 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, Bruce Brown added 18 markers, while Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 13 each for the Nuggets.
BOX SCORE:
UTAH 109 — Markkanen 24, Clarkson 20, Horton-Tucker 14, Beasley 14, Conley 13, Vanderbilt 6, Gay 6, Olynyk 4, Sexton 4, Kessler 4, Fontecchio 0.
HOUSTON 101 — Porter 24, Green 17, Gordon 16, Martin 11, Mathews 11, Smith 10, Tate 7, Eason 3, Garuba 2, Nix 0, Marjanovic 0.
Quarterscores: 22-21, 61-49, 89-75, 109-101./PN
