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A fractured, cubist-inspired illustration captures the contrasting fortunes of the Rockets and Jazz as they face off on the court.Houston Today
The Houston Rockets have won four straight games and are big home favorites against the struggling Utah Jazz, who have lost seven in a row. The Rockets previously beat the Jazz by 20 points in February and are pushing to secure a top-5 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Why it matters
This matchup between two Western Conference teams with contrasting recent fortunes could impact playoff seeding, as the Rockets aim to solidify their position while the Jazz try to end their lengthy skid.
The details
The Rockets have won four straight games and are 27-10 at home this season, while the Jazz have lost seven consecutive games and are just 8-29 on the road. Houston previously defeated Utah 125-105 on February 23. Oddsmakers have installed the Rockets as heavy home favorites for Friday’s game.
The Rockets and Jazz have played three times so far this season, with Houston winning two of those meetings.The Rockets’ most recent victory over the Jazz came on February 23, when they won 125-105.
What they’re saying
“Kevin Durant is always one to watch, especially against a team like Utah.”
— Ryan Gilbert, Author
What’s next
The outcome of this game could impact the Rockets’ positioning in the Western Conference playoff race, as they look to secure a top-5 seed.
The takeaway
This matchup between the surging Rockets and struggling Jazz highlights the contrasting fortunes of the two teams, with Houston aiming to solidify its playoff position while Utah tries to end its lengthy losing streak.