Rockets Stifle Utah Jazz Stars In Lopsided Outing
Nov 30, 2025, 4:39 PM | Updated: Dec 1, 2025, 12:49 pm
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) shoots a three pointer over Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) (Credit: Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
(Credit: Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz suffered a 129-101 blowout loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday afternoon.
Ace Bailey led the Jazz with 19 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting, but the team struggled to find easy baskets throughout the night.
Alperen Sengun paced the Rockets with 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting.
Related: Jazz Snap Four Game Losing Streak In Win Over Kings
Lauri Markkanen is coming back to Earth
After a brilliant start to the 2025-26 season, Lauri Markkanen has cooled off over his last five games.
The forward still averages 20.4 points during that stretch, but that’s a sharp drop from the 30.6 points he posted in his first 14 appearances. His shooting has also dipped, especially from three-point range, where he’s fallen from 38 percent to 23 percent, hitting just eight of his last 34 attempts.
Despite the slump, Markkanen isn’t concerned.
“I know the numbers will even out, obviously it’s a long season, so there’s going to be hot streaks, and there are little tougher moments, but it’s all part of it,” Markkanen said.
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Jazz coach Will Hardy echoed that sentiment.
“I want him to approach every night, assuming that he’s Lauri Markkanen and he’s one of the elite shooters in our game,” Hardy said. “I think sometimes, when there are little pockets where the perimeter shooting goes cold, there can be a lot of questions as to, like, why, and then we can start to really overanalyze ourselves. Is it my base? Is it my follow-through? Is it my grip? You start thinking about it too much.”
Hardy doesn’t want Markkanen to change anything.
“I want Lauri to trust the work that he’s put in and that he continues to put in,” Hardy said.
Keyonte George has worst game of his career
Keyonte George had arguably the worst game of his career against Houston, despite an otherwise strong third season.
Whether it was the midday tip-off, the illness that left him questionable until two hours before the game, or facing All-Defensive team member Amen Thompson, George never found a rhythm.
The guard shot 0-for-6 from the floor, didn’t reach the foul line, and went scoreless for the first time since March 4 of his rookie year.
Before the game, Hardy explained how to attack a defender like Thompson.
Will Hardy on what makes @HoustonRockets wing Amen Thompson such a special defender, and how players need to attack him. #TakeNote | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/AAhOFwVIgY
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) November 30, 2025
“Thompson is in the upper echelon of individual perimeter defenders in our league, and guys like him force a lot of turnovers one-on-one on the ball,” Hardy said.
George fell victim to Thompson’s pressure, committing a career-high eight turnovers in 19 minutes.
“You need to be very purposeful with the ball when he’s guarding you, it’s not a time to casually change hands with the ball,” Hardy added. “You have to use your off arm and your body to protect the ball, and you also have to have enough humility to know when to get off it.”
George didn’t return in the fourth quarter but will get a chance to bounce back Monday.
“The best thing about the NBA is you get to play the same team tomorrow and get to fix all the mistakes that we all made today,” George said.
Next Utah Jazz Broadcast
The Jazz will host the Houston Rockets on Monday at 7 p.m. MST. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
