The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets: Keys to snapping Clutch City’s streak

By Jared Woodcox

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 18: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz share a moment after the game between the two teams on December 18, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 18: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz share a moment after the game between the two teams on December 18, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 25: Houston Rockets guard Joe Johnson (7) talks with Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) during a timeout during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on February 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 25: Houston Rockets guard Joe Johnson (7) talks with Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) during a timeout during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on February 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /

Key #3 – Win the three-point battle

The Houston Rockets are without a doubt a team that lives and dies by the three-point shot as they lead the league by a land slide in attempts per game at 42.6. For reference, the team that takes the second most threes, the Brooklyn Nets, averages nearly eight less at 34.9. The Golden State Warriors, meanwhile, are all the way at 11th in the league in attempts at 29.9 per game.

Fortunately for the Rockets, their trigger-happy three-point shooting is clearly working out for them as it’s helped propel them to the best record in the league even though, oddly enough, they’re just 10th in the NBA in three-point percentage at 36.7 percent. What they lack in accuracy, they undoubtedly make up for in sheer, relentless volume.

Surprising though it may be to some, the Jazz actually boast a significantly better three-point shooting percentage than the Houston Rockets as they are fourth in the league at 37.3 percent. However, judging solely on the three contests between these two teams, no one could have ever guessed that such was the case.

In the first matchup, Houston out-shot the Jazz from three 59 percent (23-of-39) to 38.2 percent (13-of-34). That wasn’t a bad outing by Utah by any means, but in that game the Rockets simply couldn’t miss. In the second contest, Houston shot 42.9 percent (18-of-42) to Utah’s 36.7 percent (11-of-30) and in the third they converted on 39.5 percent (17-of-43) to Utah’s 29.6 percent (8-of-27).

The astounding advantage that the Rockets had in both makes and percentage was one of the main determining factors in each of the Jazz losses. Part of this has to do with the fact that Utah hasn’t been a great perimeter defending team on the season (26th in the league in opponent three-point percentage at 36.9 percent) and that will certainly have to change tonight.

The Rockets have walloped the Jazz from the three-point line in all three of their victories this season. However, in Houston’s 13 losses this year, they’ve shot under 33 percent from deep, meaning that holding them in check from three while finding some success on the offensive end will be an absolute requirement for the Jazz if they’re to earn a big win this evening.

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