NBA Daily Blog: Rockets lose to the Jazz at home 103-91.

Gordon Hayward defended by Courtney Lee.

Photo ©NBA/Rockets.com

The Houston Rockets' homecoming after a successful road trip ended on a sour note as they lose to the Utah Jazz at the Toyota Center 103-91. The loss pushed the Rockets into a 6th place three-way tie with the idle Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets who won against the Minnesota Timberwolves (story below) at 32-26. The Jazz improve to 31-28 with the victory.

The Rockets shot only 36% from the field, 20% from 3 point range and were led by Goran Dragic who scored 19 points and 7 assists. Kyle Lowry added 15 points and 5 assists coming off the bench. Rookie Chandler Parsons scored 13. Luis Scola and Patrick Patterson each scored 10. Marcus Camby pulled down 13 rebounds together with 9 points.

The Jazz shot 51% from the field, 43% from 3 point range and were led by Gordon Hayward who finished with 29 points and 6 assists. Paul Millsap added 21 points and 7 rebounds. Al Jefferson finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Derrick Favors and DeMarre Carroll each scored 10.

In Toronto, the Philadelphia 76ers win in a blowout against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre 93-75. 6 Sixers players finished in double figures with Thaddeus Young leading the way with 17 points and 5 rebounds coming off the bench. Nikola Vucevic added 12 points and 5 rebounds. Elton Brand finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams and Spencer Hawes each scored 10. The Raptors were led by Ed Davis who had a double-double 13 points, and 13 rebounds coming off the bench. Rookie Alan Anderson also scored 13. DeMar DeRozan scored 11. Gary Forbes scored 10.

In Cleveland, the Indiana Pacers win in overtime against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena 104-98. With the loss, the Cavaliers are knocked out of playoff contention. The Pacers were playing without starting point guard Darren Collison and were led by Danny Granger with 23 points. David West scored 19 points. George Hill added 17 points and 5 assists. Roy Hibbert finished with a double-double 11 points and 10 rebounds. Paul George pulled down 10 rebounds. Antawn Jamison led the Cavaliers with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Lester Hudson added 19 points and 6 rebounds off the bench. Samardo Samuels scored 13. Rookie Tristan Thompson added 10 points and 8 rebounds.

In Boston, the Boston Celtics win a thriller in overtime against the Atlanta Hawks at the TD Garden 88-86. Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with a double-double 22 points and 12 rebounds. Brandon Bass also had a double-double 21 points and 10 rebounds. Paul Pierce scored 17. Rajon Rondo came up with a triple-double 10 points, 10 rebounds and 20 assists. The Hawks were led by Jeff Teague who finished with 21 points and 6 assists. Josh Smith finished with a double-double 20 points and 11 rebounds. Joe Johnson scored 14. Zaza Pachulia scored 13.

In Milwaukee, the New York Knicks maintained their hold on the 8th spot in the East as they beat the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center 111-107. Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with a double-double 32 points and 10 rebounds. Tyson Chandler also came up with a double-double 19 points and 11 rebounds. Rookie Iman Shumpert added 16 points and 5 assists. J.R. Smith scored 14. Landry Fields added 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Steve Novak scored 10. Monta Ellis led the Bucks with 35 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds. Brandon Jennings finished with 22 points and 7 assists. Mike Dunleavy Jr. added 19 points and 6 rebounds.

In Memphis, the Memphis Grizzlies defeat the Phoenix Suns at the FedExForum 104-93. The Grizzlies were led by Rudy Gay who finished with 32 points and 7 rebounds. Zach Randolph added 17 points and 9 rebounds. O.J. Mayo scored 15. Mike Conley added 12 points and 7 assists. Dante Cunningham scored 10. Marcin Gortat led the Suns with 19 points. Shannon Brown scored 18. Rookie Markieff Morris scored 17. Steve Nash finished with a double-double 11 points and 10 assists. Josh Childress scores 10.

In New Orleans, the New Orleans Hornets pick up the win against the Sacramento Kings at the New Orleans Arena 105-96. Jason Smith led the Hornets with 22 points and 6 rebounds. Marco Belinelli scored 21. Greivis Vasquez added 15 points and 5 assists. Xavier Henry scored 14. Chris Kaman pulled down 10 rebounds with 8 points. The Kings were led by Marcus Thornton who scored 25 points. Tyreke Evans added 19 points and 9 assists. Jason Thompson added 18 points and 7 rebounds.

In Oklahoma City, the Los Angeles Clippers win a thriller on a Chris Paul layup with 8.8 seconds left against the West leading Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena 100-98. Paul led the way for the Clippers with 31 points and 6 rebounds. Blake Griffin finished with a double-double 16 points, and 12 rebounds alongside 7 assists. Kenyon Martin scored 12. Nick Young added 10. Kevin Durant who missed the game-winning 3 pointer led the Thunder with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Russell Westbrook added 20 points and 9 assists. James Harden scored 17 off the bench. Serge Ibaka added 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

In San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers once again without Kobe Bryant pick up a huge blowout victory on the road against the 2nd place San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center 98-84. Metta World Peace led the Lakers with 26 points. Paul Gasol finished with a double-double 21 points and 11 rebounds. Andrew Bynum had a monster game on the boards finishing with a career high and NBA season high 30 rebounds alongside 16 points. Matt Barnes scored 13 off the bench. Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake each scored 10. Danny Green led the Spurs with 22 points. The Spurs trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili combine for only 27 points with Duncan scoring 14, Ginobili scoring 9 points, and Parker with 4 points with 8 assists.

In Denver, the Denver Nuggets pick up a home win against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Pepsi Center 113-107. Ty Lawson led the Nuggets with 24 points and 8 rebounds. Arron Afflalo scored 21. Danilo Gallinari scored 18. Kenneth Faried finished with a double-double 16 points and 12 rebounds. Al Harrington scored 11. The Timberwolves who lost star forward Kevin Love after suffering from a concussion coming off the elbow of JaVale McGee in the 1st quarter were led by Anthony Randolph who scored 28 coming off the bench. Rookie Derrick Williams added 27 points and 8 rebounds. J.J. Barea, Nikola Pekovic and Martell Webster each scored 12. Wesley Johnson scored 11.

In Portland, the Portland Trail Blazers pick up a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive against the Golden State Warriors at the Rose Garden 118-110. Jamal Crawford led the Trail Blazers with 34 points. J.J. Hickson finished with a double-double 23 point and 13 rebounds. Wesley Matthews scored 18. Raymond Felton also finished with a double-double 16 points and 10 assists. Nicolas Batum scored 14. Joel Pryzbilla pulled down 14 rebounds. The Warriors who are knocked out of playoff contention with the loss were led by David Lee with a double-double 21 points and 14 rebounds. Nate Robinson added 19 points and 8 assists. Richard Jefferson scored 15. Brandon Rush scored 13. Rookie Klay Thompson scored 12. Dorell Wright added 11.

With the New York Knicks' victory against the Milwaukee Bucks, the idle Detroit Pistons have been knocked out of playoff contention. However, it's still a two-way battle for the 8th spot between the Knicks and the Bucks.

STANDINGS AS OF 4/12/12 (13:07 PHT)
WEST: 

1. Thunder (nw) 42-16, 2. Spurs (x) 40-16, 3. Lakers 37-22, 4. Clippers 35-23, 5. Grizzlies 34-23, 6. Mavericks 32-26, 7. Nuggets 32-26, 8. Rockets 32-26, 9. Jazz 31-28, 10. Suns 30-28, 11. Trail Blazers 28-31, 12. Timberwolves 25-34, 13. Warriors (o) 22-35, 14. Kings (o) 19-40, 15. Hornets (o) 16-42

EAST:

1. Bulls (x) 44-14, 2. Heat (x) 40-16, 3. Pacers 36-22, 4. Celtics 34-24, 5. Hawks 34-24, 6. Magic 34-24, 7. 76ers 31-27, 8. Knicks 30-28, 9. Bucks 28-30, 10. Pistons (o) 21-36, 11. Nets (o) 21-38, 12. Cavaliers (o) 19-37, 12. Raptors (o) 20-39, 14. Wizards (o) 14-44, 15. Bobcats (o) 7-49

K-Smoove