How Rockets can keep pressure on West with Jazz limping into town
HOUSTON VS. UTAH
02 April
The Rockets host the Jazz Wednesday night. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
The Houston Rockets will aim to bounce back from their loss to the Lakers when they host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.
Houston (49-27) has surged into second place in the Western Conference, winning eight of its last 10 games while outscoring opponents by an average of 10.5 points per game in that span. Jalen Green (21.5 PPG) and Alperen Sengun (18.1 PPG last 10 games) continue to lead a balanced Rockets attack that averages 114.0 points per game this season.
Utah (16-60) enters on a six-game losing streak and has struggled against Western Conference opponents, going just 7-41. Despite the rough stretch, the Jazz remain strong on the glass, ranking fifth in the NBA in rebounds (45.4 per game) behind center Walker Kessler (12.2 RPG, 2.4 BPG). However, injuries continue to pile up, with Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and Kessler all listed as day-to-day.
Perimeter shooting could be a key factor in this matchup. The Rockets allow 12.1 made 3-pointers per game, while the Jazz make 13.8 per contest—but Utah also surrenders 14.7 threes per game, giving Houston an opportunity to exploit its defense from beyond the arc.
With a playoff spot locked up, the Rockets will look to take care of business and extend Utah’s losing streak as the regular season winds down.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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