Utah Jazz (29-41, 12th in the Western Conference) against Houston Rockets (34-35, 11th in the Western Conference)
Houston; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Utah will look to break its nine-game road slide when the Jazz take on Houston.
The Rockets are 22-19 against their conference opponents. Houston ranks fifth in the Western Conference in team defense, allowing just 112.6 points while holding opponents to 46.0 percent shooting.
The Jazz are 14-27 in the Western Conference. Utah is second in the Western Conference with 53.9 points per game in the paint led by Collin Sexton averaging 8.6.
The Rockets have averaged 12.3 3-pointers per game this season, which is 2.3 fewer shots per game than the Jazz dropped (14.6). The Jazz are shooting 46.9% from the field, which is 0.9% higher than the 46.0% of the Rockets’ opponents this season.
The teams are playing for the second time this season. The Rockets won the last game 127-126 in overtime on January 21. Alperen Sengun scored 37 points to help the Rockets secure the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Fred VanVleet is averaging 16.6 points and 8.3 assists for the Rockets. Jalen Green is averaging 26.5 points over the last 10 games.
Sexton is averaging 18.5 points and 4.8 assists for the Jazz. Keyonte George is averaging 17.1 points and 3.9 assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 9-1, averaging 120.2 points, 45.4 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 9.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% since field. Their opponents average 109.7 points per game.
Jazz: 2-8, averaging 112.4 points, 44.4 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 5.2 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents average 121.2 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Tari Eason: out for the season (leg), Cam Whitmore: out (knee), Steven Adams: out for the season (knee), Alperen Sengun: out (ankle).
Jazz: Jordan Clarkson: out (groin), John Collins: out (face).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data logging and the data of Sports radar.
