Bogdanovic hits game-winner as Jazz defuse Rockets

LOS ANGELES – Bojan Bogdanovic shook off a frustrating shooting night by nailing a clutch 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Utah Jazz to a 114-113 win over the Houston Rockets Sunday (Monday, Manila time).

Bogdanovic is averaging 21 points per game this season but the Croatian star finished with eight points against the Rockets. He sank just two field goals.

But he made it count when it mattered the most. The Jazz executed the final play to perfection as Bogdanovic shot over James Harden for the winning basket.

"They made a heck of a shot," Houston coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We had two guys on him. I was afraid we were going to foul him (because) it was so close. Hats off to that shot."

With just over four minutes left, Bogdanovic hit a 3-pointer and then Donovan Mitchell nailed a jumper to give the Jazz a 107-100 lead.

But the Rockets weren't finished. Harden answered with a nifty pass to Robert Covington who sank a 3-pointer to put Houston ahead 110-109 with 28 seconds left.

Mitchell responded with two free throws as the Jazz got back in front. Houston's PJ Tucker then sank a corner 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left that pushed the Rockets back in front before Bogdanovic had the final say.

Jordan Clarkson paced the Jazz with 30 points off the bench while Mitchell added 24 and six assists. Rudy Gobert had 12 points and 15 rebounds.

Russell Westbrook led the Rockets with 39 points and Harden finished with a triple double of 28 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who shot just 10 of 33 from 3-point range over the last three quarters.