Utah Jazz Rookie Ochai Agbaji Goes On 8-0 Run Against Houston Rockets
Jan 5, 2023, 8:01 PM | Updated: 8:05 pm
Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Utah Jazz looks on during a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz rookie Ochai Agbaji opened the fourth quarter of Utah’s game against the Houston Rockets with a personal 8-0 run.
The Rockets hosted the Jazz at Toyota Center on Thursday, January 5.
After a scoreless first three quarters, the Kansas product came off the bench and caught fire to final the final quarter of action.
12 seconds into the quarter, Agbaji dunked the ball for his first points of the night.
folks: @youngoch 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CcM5ceR630
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 6, 2023
Less than a minute later, the guard connected on a 24-foot three-pointer to give the Jazz a 100-88 lead. At the 10:04 mark, he buried another triple, this time from 23 feet out to make it a 103-91 Jazz lead.
The rookie with 8 quick points 🗣 pic.twitter.com/I95mh4hDB7
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 6, 2023
This season, the rookie is averaging 2.5 points per game on 38.6 percent shooting, including 21.7 percent from beyond the arc. He also averages 1.0 rebounds, 0.2 assists, and 0.1 steals in 7.9 minutes per game. He’s played in 18 contests.
8-0!
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 6, 2023
RELATED: Lauri Markkanen Sets Single Quarter Career-High Against Houston
Utah’s game against Houston is broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, NBA League Pass, and KSL Sports Zone.
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Jazz vs. Rockets
Jazz Hurt By Close Losses
Though the Jazz have lost five consecutive games, they’ve been outscored by a total of just 15 points during the stretch.
On Tuesday the Jazz were robbed of a win over the Sacramento Kings by a tenth of a second as Lauri Markkanen’s would-be game-winning three-pointer was waived off as the ball was still on his fingertips as time expired.
On New Year’s Eve, Miami Heat forward Tyler Herro hit a running three to sink the Jazz 126-123 at the buzzer.
Before the two losses at home, the Jazz fell by one in Sacramento as Markkanen missed a potential game-winner, lost by three at Golden State as they surrendered a double-digit second half lead, and lost by four at San Antonio despite a furious rally late in the game.
The Jazz will be without guard Collin Sexton for the second-consecutive game as he continues injury maintenance on his right hamstring.
LISTEN LIVE: The @utahjazz are on the road to face the @HoustonRockets on https://t.co/4kU961UAvR and the @KSLSportsZone.#TakeNote https://t.co/w2QPLmn8hH pic.twitter.com/cKTTzTicIY
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 6, 2023
Rockets Own Worst Record In West
Like the Jazz, the Rockets are riding their own five-game losing streak, and have lost 10 of 11 overall.
Houston last won a game on December 26 over the Chicago Bulls but have struggled badly since.
Unlike the Jazz, Houston has been blown out in four of their last five games including a 119-108 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.
The Rockets trailed by 25 entering the fourth quarter before outscoring New Orleans 35-21 with the game already out of hand.
With a loss, the Rockets could pull even with the idle Charlotte Hornets for the worst record in the NBA at 10-29.
Houston did hand the Jazz their first loss of the season, 114-108, on October 24.
