Rockets Seek 8th Straight Win, Welcome Jazz
Different Tunes. Embrace the Noise. Stay on Mark.
For the first time since 2019, the Houston Rockets are aiming for their 8th straight victory, as they host the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. These teams have been singing different tunes since the Jazz were 26-26 in February. Back then, Utah appeared to have a shot to sneak into the Play-In, with the Rockets a few games behind them. Since then, the Jazz have gone 3-15, and now hold a 29-41 record. Over that same stretch, the Rockets have gone 11-8. More recently, Houston has won seven consecutive games and now sit only a game below .500, with a 34-35 record. The Rockets won the first matchup with the Jazz, a thrilling 127-126 overtime victory in Houston, back on January 20th.
The Rockets will see this Jazz team more than any other opponent over the final 13 games of the season. After tonight, Houston will travel to to play the Jazz in Utah twice over the final dozen games of the season. The Rockets need to embrace this opportunity. Utah is headed in the opposite direction, bound for the draft lottery. Houston needs to take advantage of these matchups with Utah. The Rockets still have eight games remaining against teams with a winning record. So their schedule down the stretch does toughen up.
Utah limps into Houston tonight, as they are without two of their best players, Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson, for this matchup. The Rockets can’t afford to take this Jazz team lightly. Houston barely survived the first meeting, and this Utah team always plays hard, regardless of who’s available. With more than enough firepower to beat this wounded Jazz squad, the Rockets should continue their winning ways tonight. Expect Houston to fend off a feisty Jazz team, and earn their eighth straight win on Saturday night.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Utah Jazz (29-41): Black
Houston Rockets (34-35): “City Edition” White
Tip-Off: 7:00 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass