Jazz top Rockets to knot series

HOUSTON — Joe Ingles scored a career-high 27 points and the Jazz squandered a huge early lead before using a big fourth quarter to regain control and beat the Rockets 116-108 on Wednesday night and tie the Western Conference semifinals at 1-1.

Ingles made a career-best seven 3-pointers and star rookie Donovan Mitchell added 17 points and 11 assists for his first game this postseason in which he scored fewer than 20 points and didn’t lead the team in scoring.

“Every time Joe has needed to step up his game, he has been able to,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “He’s committed to that. He knew tonight he would need to make some shots and he was able to do it.”

James Harden had 32 points and 11 assists, and Chris Paul added 23 points as Houston lost to the Jazz for the first time this season after winning the first five meetings.

The Jazz were behind by two with eight minutes left before using a 16-2 run to pull away. Game 3 is Friday night in Salt Lake City.

After trailing by 25 points at halftime of a 110-96 loss in the series opener, the Jazz jumped out to an early lead in this one and led by as many as 19 in the first half.

“Last game, we came out completely opposite. Tonight, they kind of caught us off-guard,” Harden said. “We adjusted to it in that second quarter, but we can’t get down 19 no matter who we’re playing.”

Houston regained the lead in the third quarter, but couldn’t keep pace with the Jazz in the fourth as its normally potent offense went cold.

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said Mitchell was the key to the win though he didn’t lead the team in scoring.

“He was breaking us down,” D’Antoni said. “He was getting in there and was finding guys in the corner. He’s a handful whether he’s finishing or not.”