The Houston Rockets had all the advantages in Game 1 against the Utah Jazz in their NBA Western Conference playoff series, but looked a little like they had taken the night off in Game 2, losing the home court advantage at their own Toyota Center. But now they have regained it, with a resounding victory in Salt Lake City, and they leave the Jazz scratching their heads in anticipation of Game 4, which is scheduled to tip off at 8:05 PM ET on Sunday night at the Vivint Smart Home Arena. If you are a VietBet customer, you have the chance for better odds with reduced juice before the game starts, then you can continue your action while the contest is in progress with Live Betting Ultra.
NBA Playoff Odds – Houston vs Utah in Game 4
In the NBA playoff odds that have been posted on Game 4 at VietBet, the Rockets are laying points on the road:
Houston Rockets -6
Utah Jazz +6
Over 208.5 points -110
Under 208.5 points -110
Join Vietbet NOW for 2018 NBA Playoff Odds online! Enter promo code VIET35 good for a 35% Welcome Bonus up to $1,000.
2018 NBA Playoff Odds: CJ’s Take
Houston came out on fire Friday night to the extent that they led 37-15 in the first quarter, with that lead ballooning to 37 points in the third quarter. They took their foot off the pedal for a final tally of 113-92. It was another day at the office for James Harden, who had 41 points in Game 1 and 25 points with a dozen assists in Game 3. It’s one thing when people like Harden, Chris Paul or even Clint Capela are able to produce on the offensive end for the Rockets. But Eric Gordon, an explosive reserve, had 25 points as well, producing his career post-season high. This was quite a relief for the veteran out of UConn, who had been shooting 31.4% over the seven previous playoff games.
Let’s talk about what has made this such a tough proposition for the Jazz. In Game 7 against Oklahoma City, they lost their point guard, the resourceful Ricky Rubio, to a hamstring injury, and that left ball-handling duties in the hands of Donovan Mitchell, a sensational rookie talent who plays his best OFF the ball. So it changes the offense somewhat. Even while leading Utah’s road win in Game 2, he had only 17 points, his playoff low, and in the first quarter of Game 3, the Jazz committed six turnovers, which set the tone for a dismal evening. Mitchell was obviously distracted, as he scored only ten points.
Coach Quin Snyder is going to have to think about whether he wants to use Dante Exum a little more. The 6-6 native of Australia, a former first-round draft choice, has not fulfilled his promise, but he is at least a natural point guard. He played 14-1/2 minutes in Game 3, and even though he has been seen making a few spectacular plays, the consistency isn’t there. Utah’s other Aussie, long-range bomber Joe Ingles, had been counted on to share some of the play-making with Mitchell, but he committed five turnovers on Friday and shot just two of 10 from the field. If there was anything encouraging out of this effort, it was that the Rockets went just 11 for 36 (30.6%) from beyond the arc. But they will need more than that.
It is entirely possible that the Jazz can out together one last stand to avoid going into a terrible hole here. But without Rubio’s presence, and maybe even that of power forward Derrick Favors, who sprained his ankle in the last game, that is going to be challenging, to say the least.
VietBet welcomes you with open arms, with a great free play bonus, not to mention reduced juice, which gives you great value on the NBA playoff odds….. If you want to wager during the game itself, you can do it with Live Betting Ultra, and don’t forget that you can use your Visa card, person-to-person transfers (like Western Union) or the virtual currency of Bitcoin to open up an account!
