Inside The Rockets

Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz: 3 Best Bets

The Houston Rockets will take on the Utah Jazz tonight, although both teams are eliminated from postseason contention.
Jonah Kubicek|
Mar 29, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) shoots a three over Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33)
Mar 29, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) shoots a three over Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33) | Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

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Houston RocketsUtah Jazz

The Houston Rockets have three games left this season, all of which will be on the road. They start the road trip by facing off with the Utah Jazz, who are also eliminated from postseason contention.

The Rockets have won all three games against the Jazz so far this season and will be looking to secure a season sweep. With their first-round pick owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder this season, they can continue to play hard and work on player development.

Mar 29, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) tries to dribble past Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5)
Mar 29, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) tries to dribble past Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) | Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

Houston will be without Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason, Steven Adams, and Jae'Sean Tate. Utah has a more loaded injury report, with Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Kris Dunn, John Collins, Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, and Jordan Clarkson are all out.

Keep it posted here for our three best bets before tipoff, powered by the odds at SI Sportsbook.

The Lines

Point spread: Jazz +11.5 (-118/Rockets -11.5 (-105)

Money line: Jazz (+390)/Rockets (-568)

Over/under: 227.5

Our Picks

Safe pick: Jalen Green OVER 23.5 points (-133)

With no reason for him to have a solid night, why wouldn't Jalen Green return to the form that almost got Houston into the postseason? Posting only a 19-point average over his last five games, Green has come back to earth and not shot well, but his 27.3-point average against Utah this season bodes well.

Team pick: Rockets -11.5 (-105)

Houston has no reason to try and lose, as they don't own their own draft pick. The Jazz are in a full tank and have lost 13 games in a row. Expect Utah to continue to roll over for their opponents, and all Houston has to do is show up to cover the spread.

Defense pick: UNDER 227.5 total points (-110)

Utah is not a serious team at this point in the season, and Houston has been good on the defensive end all year. While the Rockets should blow out the Jazz, Utah might only post 90 points, so Houston can coast in garbage time and won't post a high stat line of their own.

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Jonah Kubicek
JONAH KUBICEK

Jonah Kubicek has been writing about the NBA since 2021, covering the Pistons, Jazz, Spurs, Magic, Rockets, and Knicks. As a lifelong Spurs fan living in Michigan, he never misses an opportunity to bring up the 2005 NBA Finals (you should have guarded Horry!). He is a long-suffering Tigers fan and closely follows the NFL, although he never found an affinity for the Lions. Jonah graduated from Oakland University with a degree in History and spends his spare time playing tennis or reading. Follow Jonah on Twitter for updates on Tre Jones and other NBA news.

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