In the opener of a brief two-game homestand at Toyota Center, the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets host the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. It’s night two of a back-to-back for the Rockets, who have lost 10 of 11 games after Wednesday’s loss in New Orleans.
Led by Lauri Markkanen, Utah has exceeded all expectations for the 2022-23 season to date. While many around the NBA projected the Jazz to be in the same bottom tier as other rebuilding franchises, like Houston, steady veterans like Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, Malik Beasley, Collin Sexton, Kelly Olynyk, and Mike Conley have worked magic alongside new head coach Will Hardy.
With five straight losses, though, is that magic finally running out?
On Thursday, the Jazz, who traded veteran stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert last offseason, are clinging to 10th place in the Western Conference, which would get them in the play-in tournament if the season ended today. But a loss to the last-place Rockets could knock them out of that spot.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Thursday, Jan. 5
- Time: 7 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (10-28)
- Guard: Kevin Porter Jr.
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: KJ Martin
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Utah Jazz (19-21)
- Guard: Mike Conley
- Guard: Jordan Clarkson
- Forward: Lauri Markkanen
- Forward: Jarred Vanderbilt
- Center: Kelly Olynyk
Projected lineups are based on each team’s prior game, with the exception of Martin for Gordon, who typically sits out half of all back-to-backs as part of a planned maintenance program. Gordon played on Wednesday in New Orleans, so he appears likely to sit Thursday.
Injury reports
Houston’s injury report will not be issued until a few hours before Thursday’s tipoff, owing to the back-to-back. On Wednesday, Jae’Sean Tate (right ankle soreness) was the only absence, but expect Gordon to be unavailable Thursday due to the back-to-back. Utah will be without Collin Sexton (right hamstring injury maintenance).
