Event of the Day: Houston Rockets versus Utah Jazz

Our event of the day is the NBA Playoffs game 5 matchup between the Houston Rockets and the Utah Jazz at the Toyota Center in Houston. This second round matchup between the 1 and 5 seeds in the Western Conference has been physical and grinding for both teams but Houston’s superior star power has led them to take 3 of the first 4 games, needing only one more victory to advance into the conference championship. The Rockets are anchored by a duo of all-star guards, James Harden and Chris Paul, and center Clint Capella who excelled in their last game putting up a line of 12 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 blocks leading the team to a decisive victory.

The Jazz who have had good play overall in the series from rookie, shooting guard Donovan Mitchell and small forward Joe Ingles will need even better performances to keep their hopes alive and force a game 6. The team also just learned of yet another injury at the point guard position as Dante Exum joined Ricky Rubio on the injury report with a hamstring injury, and neither will play in the remainder of the series. The Jazz have overcome injuries to key players all year and still have a chance for the comeback if they do what they do best: Control the pace of play and play stellar defence. Overall It should be an intense game between two of the best teams in the league that look to be the first non-Warriors team to win The West since 2014.

Honourable mentions from around the globe go to the English Premier League matchup between relegation candidates Swansea and Southampton. With two games remaining both teams are tied on 33 points and sit in 17th and 18th positions in the table with the final relegation spot of 18th currently been held by Swansea due to them having he worse goal difference statistics. Leading goal scorers, Jordan Ayew for Swansea and Charlie Austin for Southampton, both need to spearhead their respective team’s attacks, with a win for either side almost guarantees a spot in the Premier League next season. Other fixtures for the day include, a heated MLB rivalry game between the Yankees and Red Sox, the Indian Premier Leagues 40th match between the Rajasthan Royals and the Kings XI Punjab, men’s and woman’s tennis at the Madrid Open, and the fourth stage 4 of the Giro d’Italia cycling race from Catania to Caltagirone. Also today the NHL Playoffs and Coupe de France continue with an Eastern Conference game 6 matchup between the Predators and the Jets and the final of the Coupe de France between Les Herbiers VF and Paris Saint-Germain F.C..

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

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Photos by NBA

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