The NBA’s compact Monday slate ends in Space City, where the Houston Rockets host the Utah Jazz at the Toyota Center.
The Jazz (18–39, 13th West) have won just six games since the calendar flipped to 2026 and recently got hit with a $500,000 fine for tanking. The Rockets (34–21, 4th West) have batted slightly above .500 in the new year and will look to rebound from Saturday’s narrow loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The teams split a back-to-back in Salt Lake City earlier this season.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Utah Jazz
- Out: Jusuf Nurkic (Nose), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Knee), Walker Kessler (Shoulder)
- Questionable: Keyonte George (Ankle)
- Probable: Lauri Markkanen (Illness)
Houston Rockets
- Out: Steven Adams (Ankle), Jae’Sean Tate (Knee), Fred VanVleet (Knee)
Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET. Houston enters as a 13.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Utah sits as a +575 underdog. The game’s total is set at 229.5 points.
Jazz vs. Rockets Preview
Utah Jazz Preview
Earlier this month, the Jazz got fined half a million dollars for what the NBA characterized as “conduct detrimental to the league,” in relation to the team pulling its starters before the fourth quarter in multiple competitive games. In layman’s terms: Utah got caught tanking.
The Jazz have posted the league’s 27th-ranked net rating this season and sit dead last in defensive rating. They’ve gone just 6–19 since the calendar flipped to 2026.
They appeared to make a big swing at the deadline by acquiring star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. That excitement lasted all of three games — then Utah shut him down for the rest of the season to undergo knee surgery. His absence further strains a frontcourt that’s also missing Walker Kessler and Jusuf Nurkic.
While Utah’s leading scorer, Lauri Markkanen (illness), is listed as probable for Monday’s contest, his running mate Keyonte George (ankle) was deemed questionable. What that entails for their fourth-quarter status is anyone’s guess.
Houston Rockets Preview
The Rockets have cooled considerably in the new year. While still holding firm in a competitive Western Conference behind a stout defense, they’ve gone just 14–11 with the league’s sixth-worst offense since Jan. 1.
During that span, Houston ranks 29th in scoring while sitting within the NBA’s bottom three in field-goal and three-point percentage.
Still, any offense led by Kevin Durant remains formidable as any. The former MVP has scored 30-plus in both of Houston’s games since the All-Star break. The Rockets also boast fellow All-Star Alperen Sengun, along with a batch of talented scorers who are capable of stuffing the stat sheet on any given night.
Jazz vs. Rockets Pick, Best Bet
It’s shaping up to be one of those nights for the Rockets, facing the lowly Jazz at home. Houston’s sputtering offense should snap back into form against the worst defense in the NBA. And with Kevin Durant igniting the fire, his strong supporting cast should find ways to shine.
Expect a good old-fashioned walloping in Houston on Monday night..
