There were punches thrown during Jazz-Rockets. The game itself was much less exciting

HOUSTON — Kris Dunn had a handful of Jabari Smith Jr.'s jersey. Smith tried to shove Dunn off. Soon, both players were taking swings at each other.

That dust-up to start the second quarter resulted in both players getting ejected. It also marked the closest thing to a competitive fight Saturday in Houston.

The game, certainly, was not that.

Houston scored 47 points in the first quarter (the most allowed by the Jazz in a first period this season) and 85 at halftime (the most allowed by the Jazz in the first half this season) en route to an easy 147-119 win over Utah.

The Jazz were down by 30 at halftime and trailed by as much as 35 in the game.

It was Utah's fifth straight defeat and 10th straight on the road. With the loss, the Jazz fell to 29-42, ensuring they will finish below .500 on the season.

Houston guard Jalen Green scored 41 points on 15-of-22 shooting, and Fred VanVleet added 34. The Rockets hit 27 3-pointers, which is the most in the NBA this season.

All of that made the tussle at the beginning of the second quarter the most interesting thing in the game.

It was the second time this season that Smith and Dunn have been in the middle of a tussle. The last time the Jazz were in Houston back on Jan. 20, the two got in a shoving/yelling match that forced the game to be stopped for the two to be separated.

"Honestly, I'd forgotten about that until all of that happened," Jazz coach Will Hardy said.

Hardy said he didn't see the build-up of Saturday's scuffle, but he said he was happy that it didn't turn into anything more serious. In other words, he's glad that neither connected on the punches thrown.

"Obviously, lucky that it didn't turn into something more," Hardy said. "Those moments are never fun, but I think it's just two really competitive guys that are getting into it. I'd totally forgotten that they had a little saying at the end of the last time we were here, but yeah, I just saw Kris, he's fine."

The incident, though, could have an impact on Utah's next game on Monday.

According to NBA rules, "Any player who throws a punch, whether it connects or not, has committed an unsportsmanlike act. He will be ejected following confirmation during review by instant replay and suspended for a minimum of one game."

Therefore, Dunn likely is looking at a suspension for his role in the scuffle.

"I take responsibility of my actions, and whatever the league decides for me, I have to respect it," Dunn told reporters following the game.

Dunn might not be the only Jazz player who will be forced to sit out against the Mavericks, either.

Collin Sexton was not in the game at the time of the altercation but temporarily left the bench en route to Dunn and Smith. After taking a few steps on the court, he made a beeline back to the sidelines.

The NBA rulebook states that "during an altercation, all players not participating in the game must remain in the immediate vicinity of their bench. Violators will be subject to suspension, without pay, for a minimum of one game and fined up to $50,000."

Sexton hasn't missed a game all season.

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