Jazz Seek Win Over Rockets After Losing Seven Of Last Eight Meetings
Feb 8, 2020, 6:17 PM
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots over Houston Rockets forward P.J. Tucker (17) during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020. Courtesy of Deseret News.
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz eye their first win over the season against the Houston Rockets after dropping the first matchup of the season and seven of the last eight meetings.
The Jazz travel to Houston to play the Rockets at the Toyota Center on Sunday, February 9.
After winning the first two meetings of the 2018-19 season, the Jazz have lost seven of the last eight games they’ve played the Rockets. Utah’s only win against Houston in that stretch came in game four of the 2019 NBA Playoffs. The Rockets won game four to eliminate the Jazz and take the series 4-1 to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.
🔥 @mconley10 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7V9pOkbCtO
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 28, 2020
In Utah’s last eight games with Houston, the Rockets have outscored the Jazz by an average of 10.875 points per game.
The Jazz hosted the Rockets at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 27.
Houston played the game without stars, James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Former Rockets center Clint Capela also missed the game due to injury.
Rockets guard Eric Gordon scored a career-high 50 points to on 14-22 shooting to lead the Rockets to a 126-117 victory.
𝗘𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝟱𝟬! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ie7CfwL11e
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 28, 2020
The loss began a five-game losing streak by the Jazz. Utah lost consecutive games to the Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Nuggets again before defeating the Trail Blazers 117-114 on February 7.
On February 4, Houston traded Capela and Nene Hilario to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a four-team, 12-player deal. In return, the Rockets received Robert Covington from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jordan Bell from the Golden State Warriors, and Atlanta’s 2024 second-round pick.
Houston enters the game with a 33-19 overall record including 18-7 at home. Harden leads the Rockets this season with an NBA-high 35.3 points per game.
The Jazz are 33-18 on the season and 14-13 away from Vivint Smart Home Arena. Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is averaging 24.3 points per contest.
they keep trying ¯_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/f8jFQIhPih
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 28, 2020
Utah last win in Clutch City came on October 24, 2018.
The Jazz and Rockets are scheduled to tip-off on Sunday, February 9 at 5 p.m. (MDT). The game will broadcast on NBA TV and 97.5 FM.
