Jazz gave James Harden a case of Resting Beard Face

The Jazz beat the Rockets, 116-108, in Game 2 of their series on Wednesday. James Harden shot just 9-for-22, and Houston went just 10-for-37 from deep. The bigger problem was that Utah found ways to score relatively easily for a team that should struggle to score against a top defense. Joe Ingles had 27 points on 13 shots. Alec Burks had 17 on 11 off the bench.

On the podium, a reporter suggested Harden had been irritated by the Jazz and by the officiating during the game. A brief transcript via Ben Golliver (click through for video):

Reporter: “You had that irritated look.”

Harden: “What’s that?”

Reporter: “You know, ‘I’m not getting a call ...’”

Harden: “I look like that all the time. That’s just my facial expression. I think it’s the beard.”

It’s probably not just the beard: the Jazz generally and Joe Ingles specifically will do that to you. Ask anyone in Oklahoma City. This series gets mighty, mighty interesting if Utah takes Game 3 at home. We’ll find out if they can pull it off Friday.

Jazz 116, Rockets 108
Series tied 1-1
Recaps: SLC Dunk | The Dream Shake

Cavaliers at Raptors, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
Cleveland leads 1-0

Sixers at Celtics, 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Boston leads 1-0

Look, 6 o’clock weekday tips are necessary in the playoffs when you have two East Coast series going and playing on the same day, as we do on Thursday. They are bad, though. Let’s all acknowledge that 6 o’clock weekday tips are bad. The NBA should schedule series such that they are avoided, for they are so bad.

The Suns hired Igor Kokoskov as their new head coach. Kokoskov, who is Serbian and now purportedly the first European NBA head coach ever (it’s complicated), works under Quin Snyder in Utah. He coached the Slovenian national team to EuroBasket glory last summer, too. That team featured one Luka Doncic, a potential No. 1 overall pick. Phoenix has the best odds to win the No. 1 pick. What a match made in heaven! Until, you know, the Suns take DeAndre Ayton instead. Here’s the view from Phoenix fans at Bright Side of the Sun.

I wrote about Steph Curry and the nature of superteams.

Harry Lyles Jr. on why you should not doubt LeBron James. Seerat Sohi on the Raptors falling into their old identity.

This putback dunk by Donovan Mitchell is five levels of awesome.

The NBA upgraded Kevin Love’s elbow to DeMar DeRozan’s dome to a Flagrant 1. That ... that’s a call that could have helped the Raptors had it been made during the game.

It was only a matter of time before Drake got into a “fight” with an NBA player.

Tom Haberstroh on Steph Curry’s 2016 injury and the connection to this season.

Marc Spears on the Bickerstaffs making history.

Chris Ballard talks to Brian Grant about his battle with Parkinson’s.

Charles Barkley apologized for claiming he wanted to punch Draymond Green in the face.

Where a public housing crisis and a passion for basketball intersect in Cairo, Illinois.

Jamal Crawford becomes the first notable player to decline a 2018-19 option after a couple guys picked them up (Cory Joseph, Wes Johnson).

Catching up with Pat Burke.

And finally: apparently Patrick Beverley’s mom is the greatest Price Is Right player of all time.

Be excellent to each other.