Utah visits Houston, looks to stop road losing streak
Utah Jazz (29-41, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (34-35, 11th in the Western Conference)
Houston; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Utah will attempt to break its nine-game road slide when the Jazz take on Houston.
The Rockets are 22-19 against conference opponents. Houston ranks fifth in the Western Conference in team defense, giving up just 112.6 points while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting.
The Jazz are 14-27 in Western Conference play. Utah is second in the Western Conference scoring 53.9 points per game in the paint led by Collin Sexton averaging 8.6.
The Rockets average 12.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.3 fewer makes per game than the Jazz give up (14.6). The Jazz are shooting 46.9% from the field, 0.9% higher than the 46.0% the Rockets' opponents have shot this season.
The teams play for the second time this season. The Rockets won the last matchup 127-126 in overtime on Jan. 21. Alperen Sengun scored 37 points to help lead the Rockets to 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% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 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 have averaged 121.2 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Tari Eason: out for season (leg), Cam Whitmore: out (knee), Steven Adams: out for 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 Skrive and data from Sportradar.
