Our best bet previews continue with this Western Conference showdown between the Utah Jazz (19-21, 7-14 Away) and Houston Rockets (10-28, 6-12 Home) as part of a four-game Thursday night slate. Tip-off from Toyota Center in Houston is scheduled for 8:00 pm EST and can be seen locally or with the NBA League Pass (subscription required).
This should be one of the better NBA matchups tonight as this is the third and final regular-season meeting between the two teams after they split a home-and-home back-to-back in late October. Both defended their home court, resulting in a combined margin of victory of 14 points.
Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets Odds
Continue reading for our Jazz vs Rockets best bets.
Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets Information
NBA – Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets
Date: Thursday, January 5th, 8:00 pm ET
Location of the game: Toyota Center. Houston, Texas.
How to watch: fuboTV, NBA League Pass (subscription required).
Last Game Records
As we take a look at the Utah Jazz schedule, we see that they are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night at home. It was their second defeat at the hands of the Kings in five days, with the two coming by a combined three points. Overall, Tuesday marked Utah’s fifth loss in a row to drop them two games under .500 for the first time this season.
The Rockets are in the midst of a skid of their own, having also dropped six consecutive games. Most recently, Houston fell to the Pelicans in New Orleans on Wednesday, also falling a season-worst 18 games below the .500 mark.
Houston’s most recent win occurred on December 26th when they upset the Bulls, while you have to go back to December 22nd for the last time Utah celebrated a victory, knocking off the Wizards.
Keep reading to discover our Jazz vs Rockets best bets.
Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets Analysis
This matchup will certainly fly under the radar as compared to the rest of the card on the Thursday NBA schedule, with Luka, Ja, Tatum, PG-13, and Jokic all on the marquee, but NBA expert picks will still flood their way in seeing how light the night’s slate is.
Utah was one of the bigger surprises through the first month of the season, and even though they’ve come back down to earth more recently, they’ve been in every game, having lost their last five by a total of 15 points, and their last three by a combined six!
One of the biggest NBA team stats that stick out for the Rockets is the fact that they’re allowing 115.7 points per game (19th in the league), and since December 15th, they’ve surrendered at least 107 points in each of the 11 games they’ve played during that span (1-10 record).
Injury Report
You might think that the Houston Rockets injury report has something to do with H-Town’s struggles, but that only includes Jae’Sean Tate, who is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. Jalen Green and Kevin Porter, Jr. remain the leaders in most categories when scanning NBA player stats, so their inexperience and defense remain their biggest Achilles heels.
Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets Odds Breakdown
Utah Jazz – 6.5 / O/U 232
As you can see from the NBA odds, the Jazz are the favorites for the seventh time in their last eight games.
They’ll enter this one 21-19 ATS this year.
Houston Rockets + 6.5 / O/U 232
Houston, on the other hand, is 18-19-1 ATS this year and has only laid wood once in their last 11 games, falling to the Magic by six as one-point chalk back on December 21st.
Jazz vs. Rockets Betting Pick and Prediction
One of these teams will snap a losing streak. The other could be searching for answers. Our Jazz vs Rockets best bets includes Utah snapping out of their unlucky funk as Houston is coming off a back-to-back.
Take the Jazz on the road to get the bad taste out of their mouth after a last-second loss to Sacramento. Lauri Markkanen appeared to hit a game-winner at the buzzer, but after review, he was a split-second too late, and the euphoria turned into disappointment as the bucket was waved off. Houston should be just what the doctor ordered to get Utah back on track.
- Jazz – 6.5
- Jazz/Rockets OVER 232