Houston Rockets vs Utah Jazz Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 20/01/2024, 07:00  by Devesh Jaganath in NBA Predictions

The Houston Rockets will host the Utah Jazz at the Toyota Center in the NBA on Saturday night. The hosts are 19-21 and 11th in the Western Conference, while the visitors are 22-21 and currently in ninth place. 

The Utah Jazz have been on a hot streak, securing victories in nine of their last 11 games overall. However, they aim to bounce back in their upcoming match after a close 134-129 loss to the Thunder on Thursday. Collin Sexton played a key role in that game, leading the team with 31 points and seven assists on 10 of 19 shooting, while Lauri Markkanen contributed significantly with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Utah currently holds the 11th spot in the NBA's scoring rankings, averaging 117.1 points per game. Their opponents, the Houston squad, display a strong defensive performance, ranking eighth in the league by allowing 111.7 points per game. Notably, Utah's scoring output varies between home and away games, with 123.9 points per game at home and 110.5 on the road. Defensively, the Jazz allow an average of 118.5 points per game, placing them 23rd in the league. Heading into tonight's game, the Jazz have a clean bill of health, with no reported injuries impacting their lineup.

Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets find themselves in a challenging phase, having lost five of their last six games. They are eager to break a three-game skid following a lopsided 109-94 road defeat to the Knicks on Wednesday. Fred VanVleet emerged as a standout for the Rockets in that game, leading the team with 34 points and 12 assists, while Alperen Sengun added 18 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks. Currently, the Rockets occupy the 22nd spot in the NBA's scoring charts, averaging 112.3 points per game. Defensively, Houston holds the eighth position, permitting 111.7 points per game. They score more points at home (113.7 PPG) compared to away games (110.6 PPG), and their defense is more robust at home (106.2 PPG allowed) than on the road (117.7 PPG allowed). Victor Oladipo, Reggie Bullock, and Tari Eason are marked as doubtful for the upcoming match.