Jazz had multiple chances at a game-winner; they missed all in OT loss to Rockets

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HOUSTON — Jordan Clarkson put his hands on his head in shock.

He had just dribbled into a clean 12-foot jumper. It was a shot that he has made countless times, and a shot that on Saturday would have given the Jazz the win.

He short-armed it.

With that, the Jazz lost 127-126 in overtime at Toyota Center.

"Tough break. Yeah, just missed the shot," said Clarkson, who had 33 points and 12 rebounds. "It was a good shot. They messed up defensively matching up. No timeouts, come down, just a missed shot."

The missed look ended a wild game between two teams battling out for a play-in tournament position.

And it was just one of many plays that will haunt the Jazz until they take the court again Tuesday in New Orleans.

Collin Sexton had a bunny that he missed 30 seconds earlier; there was a Walker Kessler moving screen with 1:01 remaining in overtime and the Jazz up by 3; there were missed free throws that would have clinched it — both in regulation and in the extra session; and Sexton's open 3-pointer at the end of regulation that would have won the game then and there.

And those are just the ones on the offensive end.

"That floater that Collin got and the last shot that JC got, I will live and die with those two looks every time," Jazz coach Will Hardy said. "Those guys have proven they can make those shots over and over again."

Utah didn't score for the final 1:35 in overtime as Houston closed the game on a 4-0 run (the Jazz also got the benefit of two missed freebies by Alperen Sengun that preluded Clarkson's final attempt).

While the missed opportunities were loud, Hardy openly admitted it was a "miracle" his team was even in the game at all.

"They had 23 offensive rebounds, and we had 17 turnovers. That's a bad formula on the road," Hardy said.

Those miscues led to a big early deficit. The Jazz were down by as many as 17 in the first half and went into halftime down by 13.

Utah switched things up in the second half, mirroring Kessler's minutes with Sengun's. That helped neutralize the glass, and the game was tied heading into the fourth quarter. That set up a back-and-forth finish.

"They knew what needed to change and credit to them for doing it, Hardy said.

The Jazz took a 2-point lead on a short Clarkson jumper with 1:32 left in regulation, but couldn't score again. The Jazz had a possession they corralled two offensive rebounds, but couldn't take advantage. Then, after Sengun, who had 37 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, tied the game up with two free throws, the Jazz sprinted down for one last look at the win.

The possession with an open 3-point attempt by Sexton, who scored 28 points Saturday, taht went long.

"They ended up having to double team the ball which put them in rotations; I think we may have missed Walker on that play under the basket, but I thought the execution in the intent for the most part was pretty good," Hardy said.

It was more of the same at the end of the overtime. The Jazz went up by 3 with 1:35 to go after Lauri Markkanen, who finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, slipped inside for a dunk. Utah wouldn't score again.

And the game slipped away.