How Rockets can keep pressure on West with Jazz limping into town

HOUSTON VS. UTAH

Rockets Alperen Sengun
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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The offense faces a tough challenge against Phillies starter Zack Wheeler. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place clubs riding identical hot streaks meet again Wednesday night as the Houston Astros host the Philadelphia Phillies in a marquee midseason showdown.

The Astros, winners of six straight at home, enter with a 46-33 record and a firm grip on the AL West. They've surged behind strong pitching and timely hitting, outscoring opponents by 10 runs over their last 10 games while posting a 3.40 team ERA. Mauricio Dubón has been a spark during that stretch, slugging four homers in his last 10 games, while Isaac Paredes continues to anchor the lineup with a team-high 16 home runs.

They’ll hand the ball to rookie left-hander Colton Gordon, who brings a 2-1 record and 4.54 ERA into his eighth start of the season. Gordon has shown flashes of potential but will face perhaps his toughest test yet against a Phillies lineup loaded with talent and plate discipline.

Philadelphia, 47-32 and sitting atop the NL East, has the third-best on-base percentage in baseball (.331) and no signs of slowing. They've gone 7-3 in their last 10 games, outscoring opponents by 15 runs and batting .267 during that stretch. Trea Turner has begun to heat up, going 12-for-42 in his last 10 contests, while Nick Castellanos remains a consistent threat with 21 doubles and 41 RBIs on the year.

The Phillies will counter with ace Zack Wheeler, who enters with dominant numbers: a 7-2 record, 2.61 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 118 strikeouts. Wheeler’s command and swing-and-miss stuff have been a constant all season, and the Astros will have to work for every base runner.

This is the second meeting between the two clubs this season, with the Astros winning the first contest, 1-0. With both teams trending upward, it has all the makings of another tight, low-scoring battle. The betting line favors Philadelphia (-160), with the over/under set at 7.5 runs — a reflection of the elite pitching expected on both sides.

First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. EDT at Daikin Park.

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