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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Cal Raleigh hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off the right field foul pole and the Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros 5-3 on Friday night.
Raleigh's 17th homer followed Julio Rodríguez's tying RBI double in the seventh inning. Leody Taveras homered among his three hits, and Miles Mastrobuoni also hit a solo home run.
Emerson Hancock (2-2) gave up three runs and nine hits in six innings, striking out three and walking none. Hancock won for the first time in six starts, and Andrés Muñoz got the last three outs for 17th save while maintaining his 0.00 ERA.
Isaac Paredes hit his 11th homer of the season and seventh in the past 10 games for Houston.
Jose Altuve had three hits after hitting two homers Thursday. The former second-baseman easily threw out Raleigh when the Mariners' catcher tried to score from second on Taveras' line-drive single to left in the sixth.
Cam Smith also had three hits for the Astros.
Altuve played his 1,870th career game, tying Jośe Cruz for third-most in Astros history behind Craig Biggio (2,850) and Jeff Bagwell (2,150).
Bryan Abreau (1-2) allowed two runs and three hits in 1 1/3 innings, giving up runs for just the second time in 21 appearances. He surrendered three to the Mariners on April 9 for his other loss.
Key moment
Rodríguez, back in the lineup after missing Thursday's game with back tightness, hit Abreu's first pitch for a down the right-field line to score Crawford from first. On the next pitch, Raleigh hit his homer to right.
Key stat
Mastrobuoni’s homer was his first with Seattle, and first in his four-year major league career since 2023 with the Chicago Cubs.
Up next
Seattle's Bryan Woo (5-1, 2.65) pitches against Houston's Framber Valdez (3-4, 3.57) on Saturday.
