The Rockets are set to face off against the Utah Jazz tonight, needing to win a fifth-straight game to continue ascending the Western Conference standings.<\/p>\n
They recently passed the Timberwolves, now sitting a full game ahead of Minnesota, having rattled off wins against the Grizzlies, Pelicans, Knicks and Bucks. They’ve been largely up-and-down to end the season, but have finally course-corrected.<\/p>\n
For now, they sit at fifth in the West, but still have hope to climb back to third after grappling for it all season. A win against the Jazz would go a long way, especially as others like LA and Minnesota falter.<\/p>\n
Here are the injury reports for both the Rockets and Jazz ahead of tonight\u2019s game:<\/p>\n
Houston Rockets injuries:<\/p>\n
Steven Adams \u2014 Out: Left ankle surgery<\/p>\n
Isaiah Crawford \u2014 Out: G League<\/p>\n
Tristen Newton \u2014 Out: G League<\/p>\n
Fred VanVleet \u2014 Out: Right knee ACL repair<\/p>\n
Utah Jazz injuries:<\/p>\n
Isaiah Collier \u2014 Out: Left hamstring strain<\/p>\n
Keyonte George \u2014 Right hamstring strain<\/p>\n
Elijah Harkless \u2014 Out: Left hamstring strain<\/p>\n
Blake Hinson \u2014 Out: G League<\/p>\n
Jaren Jackson Jr. \u2014 Out: Left knee injury recovery<\/p>\n
Walker Kessler \u2014 Out: Left shoulder injury recovery<\/p>\n
Lauri Markkanen \u2014 Out: Right hip impingement<\/p>\n
Jusuf Nurkic \u2014 Out: Nose injury recovery<\/p>\n
The Rockets see a fairly straight-forward injury report, listing two players out due to G League assignment in Isaiah Crawford and Tristen Newton, in addition to two mainstays in Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams.<\/p>\n
Both VanVleet and Adams have been on the injury report for the majority of the season, with VanVleet having suffered an ACL injury in an offseason workout, and Adams going down with a season-ending ankle injury that required surgery in January.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve both been massive hits to the starting lineup and general rotation, though the Rockets have known they\u2019ve needed to adapt for months now.<\/p>\n
The Jazz are on the other side of the injury spectrum, listing eight players in total, several of which are starters or rotational bets. Former All-Stars in Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. are both ruled out, in addition to Utah\u2019s breakout scoring guard in Keyonte George, who’s averaged 23.6 points per game on the season.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the team\u2019s starting center in Walker Kessler is out for the season following shoulder surgery, in addition to Jusuf Nurkic, Elijah Harkless and Blake Hinson.<\/p>\n
The Rockets and Jazz tip off at 7 p.m. CT from Toyota Center in Houston, TX.<\/p>\n
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