NBA PLAYOFFS

Fred Faour: 5 observations from Game 1 of the Rockets-Jazz playoff series

Fred Faour: 5 observations from Game 1 of the Rockets-Jazz playoff series
Chris Paul and the Rockets had plenty to celebrate. Tim Warner/Getty Images

Five observations from the Rockets' 110-96 Game 1 win over the Utah Jazz in the second round of the NBA playoffs:

1) No slow start: The Rockets came out hot, and opened up a 34-21 first quarter lead and expanded it to 64-39 at the half. The Jazz figured to struggle early, coming off a tough turnaround from Friday night's series-clinching win over the Thunder and also adjusting to not having Ricky Rubio. The Rockets took advantage and gained control of the game early.

2) Capela continues to shine: Clint Capela was better than Karl-Anthony Towns in their matchup in the opening series. For one game, he outplayed Utah's Rudy Gobert as well. Capela was active with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Gobert did not get his first basket until the fourth quarter and had 11 points, mostly in garbage time, and 9 rebounds.

3) If there is a cause for concern...The Jazz picked up the defense in the third quarter and cut into the Rockets lead. Houston was coasting, but the Jazz turned it into the kind of game they want to play. They outscored the Rockets 29-22 in the third quarter and 28-24 in the fourth. They were never really a threat, but that is the kind of play they will seek moving forward, and the Rockets will need to adjust.

4) Depth perception: The Rockets bench was outplayed by the Jazz bench. It did not matter, because the Rockets got a big game out of James Harden (41 points), but Jae Crowder was strong for Utah with 21 points. Utah's bench outscored Houston's 40-13, but the good news was the return of Luc Mbah a Moute, who played 21 minutes for Houston. He will be a key piece moving forward.

3-mendous: The Rockets shot over 50 percent on 3-pointers, hitting 53.1 percent on 17 of 32 shooting. Harden led the way with 7 of 12.

Overall, a solid opening game, but expect a better effort from Utah in Game 2 with more rest.

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The Astros beat the Phillies, 2-1. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.

Cam Smith hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

The rookie's second hit of the game came off Orion Kerkering (5-3) and gave the Astros their fourth straight win.

Brandon Marsh tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the inning to end the Phillies' 26-inning scoreless streak.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead on Yainer Diaz’s RBI single in the second inning. They only managed three more hits off Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez, who struck out 11 with zero walks over six innings. Sanchez has not issued a walk in three straight starts.

Hunter Brown lowered his league best ERA to 1.74 by scattering three singles over seven shutout innings, with nine strikeouts. He did not allow a runner to reach second base.

Bryan Abreu (3-3) struck out Trea Turner to end the eighth, and then struck out Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos in the ninth.

Abreu joined Julia Morales after the game and talked about his impressive performance!

Rafael Marchán had two of the Phillies' four hits. Bryson Stott reached base twice and scored the Phillies' lone run.

Key moment

Smith’s RBI.

Key stat

Brown’s 1.74 ERA is the fourth best in Astros history through 16 starts and the best since Justin Verlander posted a 1.60 ERA through 16 starts in 2018.

Up next

The Astros open a three-game series against the Cubs on Friday with LHP Brandon Walter (0-1 3.80 ERA) on the mound.

The Phillies open a three-game series at the Braves on Friday with RHP Mick Abel (2-1 3.47 ERA) against Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (2-4 4.77).

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