The Houston Rockets (10-28, 6-12 Home) will try to slow down one of the league’s top scoring teams when they host the Utah Jazz (19-21, 7-14 Away) on Thursday.Utah was narrowly defeated by the Sacramento Kings 117-115 at Vivint Arena on Tuesday, their fifth consecutive loss.
Lauri Markkanen was the key player in the loss with 28 points and eight rebounds. The Jazz are 10th in the Western Conference. Houston is playing the second of a back-to-back after losing their fifth in a row yesterday at Smoothie King Center, falling to the New Orleans Pelicans 119-108.
KJ Martin had 16 points in the losing effort to lead the team. The Rockets are 15th in the Western Conference.This marks the last meeting of the season between the teams. Utah and Houston have split their two matchups this season.
The Jazz got the win in the last meeting, beating the Rockets 109-101 at Vivint Arena in October 2022. Markkanen led the Jazz with 24 points, while Jordan Clarkson played a key role with 20 points and six rebounds.
Kevin Porter Jr. had 24 points in the losing effort. Markkanen and Clarkson, averaging 23.9 and 20.6 points per game, respectively, are leading the Jazz in scoring this season. Markkanen also has grabbed 8.5 rebounds per game.
Meanwhile, Mike Conley is dishing 7.5 assists per game.Jalen Green (21.3 ppg) and Porter Jr. (19.3) have supplied much of the Rockets’ offense. Porter Jr. also has distributed 5.8 assists per game. Alperen Sengun has posted 8.5 rebounds per game.
The Jazz rank as one of the top scoring offenses in the league, fourth-best with 117.2 points per game. The teams have split their last 10 clashes at Toyota Center (5-5).
Utah has dropped three straight away from home this season. Houston is looking to avoid an eighth successive defeat at home this season.
Meanwhile, the Rockets are 1-4 when playing on consecutive nights this season and 0-2 in such games against opponents with at least a day of rest.
The Jazz are 1-2 with a rest advantage. Utah is 3-7 in the last 10 games with an average margin of -3.8 (116.6-120.4). Houston has gone 1-9 over the last 10, allowing 117.0 points per game on average while scoring only 106.7 (-10.3 margin).
JAZZ HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points per game:
Lauri Markkanen: 30.8 | 23.9 | +6.9
Kelly Olynyk: 8.3 | 12.4 | -4.2
Rebounds per game:
Lauri Markkanen: 11.0 | 8.5 | +2.5
ROCKETS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points per game:
Alperen Sengun: 10.0 | 14.3 | -4.3
Rebounds per game:
Alperen Sengun: 6.3 | 8.5 | -2.2
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Utah Jazz (-275)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
