Houston’s small-ball approach has produced mixed results this week, including an upset of the Lakers and a blowout loss in Phoenix. The Rockets hope to dial things up from long distance once again when they host a Utah team that is on an 0-6 ATS skid.
- Date/Time: February 9, 7:00 p.m.
- Arena: Toyota Center
- TV Coverage: NBA TV, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, TSN
- Sportsbook Odds: Rockets -3.5 / O/U 233
- Jazz vs Rockets Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
This number looks short when you consider Houston has won seven of the last eight meetings, including a 126-117 upset two weeks ago as 14-point underdogs without James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Utah has been an underdog of six points or more in each of its last three trips to Houston.
Utah News & Notes
The Jazz snapped a five-game losing streak Friday but it was hardly in convincing fashion. Favored by 10.5 points over a banged-up Portland squad that was playing for the second straight night and third in four, Utah trailed by 14 points at halftime and needed a missed goaltending call for Rudy Gobert to ice the victory in the dying seconds.
Utah remains a money-burning 0-6 ATS in its last six games overall and is 1-4 ATS in its last five games on the road. The Jazz are allowing 109.4 points per game this year on the highway, 5.2 more than they’ve allowed this season in Salt Lake City. Three of Utah’s last five road opponents have scored 124 points or more and the Jazz have gone OVER the total in seven of their last eight as the visitors.
On the bright side for the Jazz, they should enjoy a significant rebounding advantage against Houston’s small lineup (Utah is seventh in the NBA in rebound chance percentage, while the Rockets are fourth-last) and they’ve also been solid bets following a victory of late. Utah is 12-3-1 ATS in its last 16 games following a SU win.
Houston News & Notes
Say what you want about the Rockets’ decision to go all-in on small-ball (their entire nine-man rotation now consists of players who are 6-foot-7 or shorter), but one thing is clear: their fate will be determined by how well they knock down the three-point shot.
Houston was 19 of 42 from behind the arc Wednesday in Los Angeles, upsetting the Lakers 121-111 as 6.5-point underdogs. Two nights later in Phoenix, however, the Rockets were 11 of 48 from distance in a 127-91 loss as 2.5-point chalk. Take James Harden’s 5-of-10 out of the equation, and Houston missed 32 of 38 three-point attempts against the Suns.
Houston’s three-point shooting prospects don’t look good Sunday against a Utah squad that is holding opponents to just 31% from downtown, the third-lowest percentage in the Association. However, the Rockets shot 38% from three in their last meeting with the Jazz (a 126-117 win two weeks ago in Salt Lake City) and have connected on at least 35% of their treys in six of their last seven against the Jazz.
Russell Westbrook sat out Friday’s loss in Phoenix (rest) after scoring 41 points against the Lakers and is expected back in the lineup versus Utah. However, the Rockets could be without Eric Gordon, who played just nine minutes versus the Suns before leaving the game with a lower leg injury.
Betting Pick: Jazz +3.5
Utah should be able to build on Friday’s comeback win by exploiting its size advantage in the paint.
- The OVER is 7-1 in the Jazz’s last 8 road games.
- The Jazz are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games.
- The Rockets are 7-1 SU in their last eight games vs the Jazz.
