Exum hurt as Jazz stumble

AUSTRALIAN guard Dante Exum’s nightmare injury run has continued as the Utah Jazz suffered another loss that leaves them on the verge of being eliminated from the NBA Playoffs by the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets won 10087 in Salt Lake City to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-finals.

The Rockets can extinguish the Jazz with a win when the series moves back to Houston.

All-Star guard James Harden had 24 points, Houston’s other All-Star guard Chris Paul 27 and centre Clint Capela was the dominant big man, with 12 points, 15 rebounds, six blocks and altering 20 of the Jazz’s shots.

Utah’s Australian guard/forward Joe Ingles had 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists but was off target when shooting from distance, with just two of his seven three-pointers dropping.

In the second quarter Rockets forward PJ Tucker was called for a flagrant foul when he struck Ingles in the face to prevent him from taking a three-point shot.

Rookie Utah guard Donovan Mitchell had 25 points and nine rebounds.

The Jazz, already without starting point guard Ricky Rubio with a hamstring strain and forward Derrick Favors struggling with an ankle injury, were hit again when Exum limped off in the third quarter with “hamstring soreness”.

Exum had nine points with his trademark slashing moves to the basket and was having success using his size and speed to guard Harden.

AAP