The Houston Rockets (13-4), surging atop the Western Conference with a stifling defense and balanced attack led by Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün, aim to sweep their back-to-back mini-series against the Utah Jazz (6-13) on Monday night. Fresh off a dominant 129-101 rout of Utah on Sunday—where the Rockets held the Jazz to 37% shooting—this matchup at Delta Center offers Houston a chance to extend their three-game win streak and five-game road surge. For the Jazz, reeling from that blowout and a 1-9 skid in their last 10, it’s a desperate bounce-back bid against a top-tier foe, leaning on Lauri Markkanen’s scoring to counter Houston’s paint dominance. With Utah’s porous defense (29th in points allowed at 125.4 PPG) facing the NBA’s second-stingiest unit (109.9 allowed), expect another lopsided affair unless the home crowd ignites a rally. Tip-off is at 9:00 p.m. ET, airing on KJZZ (local) and NBA TV nationally.
Venue Location
Arena: Delta Center
Address: 301 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Capacity: 18,186 for basketball
Notable Features: Opened in 1991 as the home of the Jazz, this downtown staple—rebranded from EnergySolutions Arena in 2023—delivers high-altitude intensity at 4,300 feet elevation, often sapping visiting energy (opponents shoot 2-3% worse from the field). Premium amenities include the Lexus Courtside Club and LED-enhanced video boards, but Utah’s 5-5 home record has led to middling crowds (avg. 15,200). Parking via the attached garage runs $10-20; TRAX light rail (Green Line to Arena Station) is recommended to skirt post-game traffic on I-15.
Tipoff: 9:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. MT / 6:00 p.m. PT)
Duration: Standard NBA game (48 minutes), plus potential overtime; around 2.5 hours with halftime and timeouts. Note: Back-to-back for Houston, which could factor into rotations.
Injury Report
Houston’s depth takes a hit on the second night of a back-to-back, while Utah’s frontcourt remains compromised. Latest updates as of game day (check NBA.com for changes):
Houston Rockets:
| Player | Position | Injury | Status | Expected Return |
| Steven Adams | C | Right ankle sprain | Questionable | Game-time decision (load management on B2B) |
| Tari Eason | PF | Right oblique strain | Out | 4-6 weeks (mid-January) |
| Dorian Finney-Smith | SF | Left ankle sprain | Out | Indefinite (recent acquisition; debut TBD) |
| Fred VanVleet | PG | Right knee surgery | Out | Entire 2025-26 season (ACL tear) |
Impact: Adams’ potential absence (key rebounder at 8.2 RPG) leans on Şengün for paint work, where Houston ranks 2nd in opponent paint points (44.1). VanVleet’s loss guts playmaking (pre-injury 18.5 PPG, 8.2 APG), forcing Amen Thompson into extended minutes; Eason/Finney-Smith thin wing defense (24th in opponent 3PT% at 37.2% without them).
Utah Jazz:
| Player | Position | Injury | Status | Expected Return |
| Keyonte George | PG | Illness | Questionable | Game-time decision |
| Georges Niang | SF | Left foot sprain | Out | 10-14 days (mid-December) |
| Walker Kessler | C | Left shoulder tear | Out | Season-ending (surgery) |
| Kevin Love | PF | Rest | Out | Next game (post-B2B) |
Impact: George’s status (23.8 PPG, 7.1 APG) is pivotal for Utah’s backcourt; without him, Collin Sexton steps up, but assists drop 20% (26th in APG at 24.2). Kessler’s absence craters rim protection (29th in blocks at 3.8 BPG total), exposing Markkanen to mismatches; Love/Niang out limits spacing (27th in 3PT% at 33.2%).
Player Matchups
Houston’s length (2nd in steals at 9.1 SPG) could exploit Utah’s turnover-prone guards (15.2 per game, 25th), but the Jazz’s rebounding (6th at 46.0 RPG) sets up second chances. Key positional battles:
PG: Amen Thompson (HOU) vs. Keyonte George (UTA, if active)
Thompson (6’7″, 14.2 PPG, 6.4 APG in starts sans VanVleet) vs. George (6’4″, 23.8 PPG). Thompson’s athleticism disrupts George’s drives (Utah 22nd in paint points at 48.2), but George’s vision (7.1 APG) tests Houston’s traps. Edge: Rockets (if George limited).
SG: Jalen Green (HOU) vs. Collin Sexton (UTA)
Green (6’4″, 24.5 PPG, 3.2 3PM) vs. Sexton (6’1″, 18.1 PPG). Green’s explosiveness torches Utah’s 29th-ranked perimeter D (opponents 38.5% 3PT); Sexton’s speed creates but fouls often (3.4 PF). Edge: Rockets.
SF: Dillon Brooks (HOU) vs. Lauri Markkanen (UTA)
Brooks (6’6″, lockdown defender with 1.8 SPG) vs. Markkanen (6’10”, 27.9 PPG, 3.2 3PM). Brooks’ physicality sags off Markkanen’s mid-range (48% FG), but Utah’s home spacing pulls him out. Edge: Even.
PF: Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU) vs. Kevin Knox II (UTA)
Smith (6’10”, 13.8 PPG, 1.9 BPG) vs. Knox (6’7″, 10.2 PPG). Smith’s versatility limits forwards (Houston 12th in opponent PF points at 18.4); Knox’s inexperience shows vs. elite D. Edge: Rockets.
C: Alperen Şengün (HOU) vs. Jusuf Nurkic (UTA)
Şengün (6’11”, 22.0 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 1.1 SPG) vs. Nurkic (7’0″, 11.2 PPG, 9.5 RPG). Şengün’s playmaking (7.1 APG) overwhelms Nurkic’s drop coverage; Utah allows 44.1 paint points (28th). Edge: Rockets.
Bench Impact: Houston’s reserves (Amen Thompson’s energy) outpace Utah’s (rookie flashes like Ace Bailey’s 14.4 PPG), in a mid-pace game (Rockets 18th at 99.4 possessions).
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away | Conference | Streak |
| Houston Rockets | 13-4 (.765) | 6-0 away (5 straight road W) | 8-2 West | W3 |
| Utah Jazz | 6-13 (.316) | 5-5 home | 4-9 West | L1 (after W vs. SAC) |
Rockets: 3rd in West; +11.7 point differential. Elite D (109.9 allowed, 2nd) fuels top-4 offense (121.6 PPG).
Jazz: 11th in West; -7.7 point differential. Middling scoring (117.7 PPG, 16th) meets league-worst D (125.4 allowed, 29th).
Recent Team Forms
Houston Rockets:
Houston’s November dominance (11-2 overall) continued with a 129-101 demolition of Utah on Sunday (Şengün 27 PTS/5 AST/4 REB) and a 104-100 grinder over Golden State (Nov. 28, Green 28 PTS). The skid? Narrow losses to Denver (115-112, Nov. 20) and OKC (118-114, Nov. 18), but they’ve won five straight roadies, holding foes under 100 in three. Offense hums (121.6 PPG, 4th; 48.2% FG), with Green’s 24.5 PPG and 12.5 3PM/game (4th). Defense elite (109.9 allowed, 2nd; 1st in opponent AST at 22.4). Pace: 18th (99.4 possessions); rebounding strong (43.4 RPG allowed, 8th).
Utah Jazz:
Utah snapped a four-game skid with a 128-119 home W over Sacramento (Nov. 28, George 31 PTS, Markkanen 28), but the 129-101 Sunday rout by Houston exposed flaws (37% FG, 18 TOs). Prior futility: Losses to Warriors (134-117, Nov. 25), Lakers (108-106, Nov. 23), averaging 112.8 PPG in the stretch (27th). Offense relies on Markkanen (27.9 PPG, 12th league-wide) and George (23.8), but 33.2% 3PT (27th) and 15.2 TOs/game (25th) doom them. Home form: 5-5, but <115 in just 4/10. Pace: 20th (98.8 possessions); rebounding edge (46.0 RPG, 6th) but poor conversion.
Series History
This Northwest/Southwest Division rivalry dates to 1974, with Utah holding a slim all-time edge, but Houston dominating lately. All-Time Regular Season: Jazz lead 116-105 (52.5% win rate over 221 games).
Playoffs: Jazz lead 10-8 (four series; last: 2019 WCSF, Rockets won 4-2).
Last 10 Meetings: Rockets 6-4, including Nov. 30, 2025 (HOU 129-101; Şengün 27 PTS) and Nov. 1, 2025 (HOU 121-110). Average score: 118.4-112.7 (Overs in 6/10).
In Salt Lake City: Jazz 5-3 since 2020, but HOU 3-1 ATS last 4. Trends: 70% of last 10 over 225 points; Rockets 7-3 SU in last 10.
Betting Trends:
Key Trends:
Rockets: 12-5 ATS overall; 9-1 ATS road. 2-1 ATS as 12.5+ favorites; Over in 6/10 road (avg. 238).
Jazz: 10-9 ATS; 8-3-0 ATS home but 1-9 SU last 10. 4-12 as dogs; Under in 6/10 (avg. 230).
Head-to-Head: Rockets 6-4 SU last 10, 7-3 ATS; Over 60%.
Game Odds
Houston Rockets
Utah Jazz
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, November 30, 2025
