HOU

UTA

Rockets look to ride balanced offense to win over Jazz

FLM
Mar 26, 2025

The Houston Rockets travel to Salt Lake City on Thursday night to face the Utah Jazz in a game of teams that are going in opposite directions.

The Rockets (47-26) have won 10 of 11 as they approach the end of the regular season on a tear. Meanwhile, the Jazz (16-57) enter this contest having lost three straight and 13 of their last 14.

Jalen Green led Houston in its most recent outing, a 121-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks, but the Rockets, who begin a three-game road trip, are finding success by spreading the offense in near-historic ways.

Seven different Houston players who have logged playing time in at least 40 games this season average 12 or more points per game. That group includes Green (21.5 ppg), Alperen Sengun (19.0), Fred VanVleet (14.6), Dillon Brooks (14.0), Amen Thompson (14.0), Tari Eason (12.2) and Jabari Smith Jr. (12.2).

If that continues through the end of the 2024-25 campaign, the Rockets would be the first team since the 1981-82 Milwaukee Bucks to do that in a season, according to the Houston Chronicle.

At least five Houston players have scored in double figures in 12 of the last 13 games.

"The balance is always good for us," Rockets coach Ime Udoka told the Chronicle. "Obviously, Alpi and Jalen are for the most part on a nightly basis gonna be there. But when we can come in layers like that, I think that's when we're at our best."

Green said Houston thrives on knowing that any guy can carry the offensive load on any given night, like he did against the Hawks. Despite only connecting on 1 of 7 3-pointers, Green made 14 of 24 shots and grabbed 11 rebounds in the victory. He also had four assists and two steals with five turnovers.

"Super important, because it's not just one guy," Green said. "We've been saying we're a deep, deep team and anybody can get it going. Anybody can have a good night. So it's always us, together."

That depth should serve Houston well come playoff time.

"A team can't zero in on one or two guys to kind of slow us down," Udoka said. "When we do defend the way we are right now and get out and run, it's basically equal opportunity."

On the other hand, the Jazz are limping toward the end of the season.

After leading by 14 points on Monday, the Jazz imploded in the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies en route to an ugly 140-103 setback.

"Yeah, no question," Jazz big man Walker Kessler said. "We got embarrassed."

Especially in the second half.

Memphis outscored Utah 41-17 in the third quarter. The Jazz were outrebounded 18-3 in the quarter and made only 5 of 17 field goals.

"I'm a very competitive person and there are moments where I feel like I'm having to restrain the core of who I am, because there seems to be an unwillingness at times to understand that this is not something that you can take for granted," Jazz coach Will Hardy said. "The NBA will stop for no one, and our program will stop for nobody."

--Field Level Media

Preview not available

3rd Quarter
HOU
Rockets
19
UTA
Jazz
9

Time		Play	Score
7:06	+3	Collin Sexton makes three point jump shot (Keyonte George assists)	72-60
7:27	+3	Amen Thompson makes three point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists)	72-57
7:43		Collin Sexton turnover (out of bounds lost ball)
7:58	+2	Dillon Brooks makes two point running layup	69-57
8:03		Walker Kessler turnover (lost ball) (Fred VanVleet steals)
8:22		Jazz 60 second timeout
8:23	+2	Alperen Sengun makes two point driving layup (Jalen Green assists)	67-57
8:33	+2	Isaiah Collier makes two point alley-oop layup (Walker Kessler assists)	65-57
8:39		Alperen Sengun personal foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul)
8:58	+3	Jalen Green makes three point pullup jump shot	65-55
9:09	+2	Collin Sexton makes two point running layup	62-55
9:16		Collin Sexton defensive rebound
9:19		Alperen Sengun misses three point jump shot
9:33		Amen Thompson defensive rebound
9:36		Collin Sexton misses three point pullup jump shot
9:48	+2	Amen Thompson makes two point cutting dunk (Dillon Brooks assists)	62-53
9:57		Dillon Brooks defensive rebound
10:00		Isaiah Collier misses three point pullup jump shot
10:12	+1	Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-53
10:12	+1	Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-53
10:12		Walker Kessler shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul)
10:21	+1	Kyle Filipowski makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-53
10:21	+1	Kyle Filipowski makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-52
10:21		Alperen Sengun shooting foul (Kyle Filipowski draws the foul)
10:28		Kyle Filipowski defensive rebound
10:30		Dillon Brooks misses two point turnaround jump shot
10:44		Walker Kessler turnover (out of bounds lost ball)
10:54		Amen Thompson personal foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul)
11:09	+3	Dillon Brooks makes three point jump shot (Amen Thompson assists)	58-51
11:13		Amen Thompson offensive rebound
11:16		Jalen Green misses two point pullup jump shot
11:26		Alperen Sengun defensive rebound
11:29		Kyle Filipowski misses three point jump shot
11:45	+2	Alperen Sengun makes two point floating jump shot (Amen Thompson assists)	55-51

2nd Quarter
HOU
Rockets
26
UTA
Jazz
27

Time		Play	Score
0:00		End of period
0:00		Rockets offensive rebound
0:00		Amen Thompson misses three point pullup jump shot
0:02	+2	Isaiah Collier makes two point driving layup	53-51
0:12	+2	Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point turnaround hook shot (Amen Thompson assists)	53-49
0:33	+2	Keyonte George makes two point running finger roll layup	51-49
0:40		Walker Kessler defensive rebound
0:43		Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot
0:52	+2	Collin Sexton makes two point driving layup	51-47
0:58		Alperen Sengun turnover (out of bounds lost ball)
1:09	+1	Keyonte George makes regular free throw 3 of 3	51-45
1:09	+1	Keyonte George makes regular free throw 2 of 3	51-44
1:09	+1	Keyonte George makes regular free throw 1 of 3	51-43
1:09		Tari Eason shooting foul (Keyonte George draws the foul)
1:27	+2	Jalen Green makes two point driving reverse layup	51-42
1:41	+3	Brice Sensabaugh makes three point running jump shot (Keyonte George assists)	49-42
1:48		Brice Sensabaugh defensive rebound
1:50		Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot
2:00		Amen Thompson defensive rebound
2:04		Collin Sexton misses two point pullup jump shot
2:13		Rockets 60 second timeout
2:13		Dillon Brooks personal foul (Loose ball) (Walker Kessler draws the foul)
2:13		Jazz offensive rebound
2:15		Keyonte George misses two point driving layup
2:38	+2	Jock Landale makes two point jump shot (Jalen Green assists)	49-39
2:54	+3	Brice Sensabaugh makes three point jump shot (Keyonte George assists)	47-39
3:03		Isaiah Collier defensive rebound
3:04		Walker Kessler blocks Jalen Green's two point driving layup
3:16		Brice Sensabaugh turnover (out of bounds bad pass)
3:19		Brice Sensabaugh defensive rebound
3:22		Fred VanVleet misses two point driving floating jump shot
3:36		Tari Eason defensive rebound
3:40		Isaiah Collier misses two point driving layup
4:04	+2	Jock Landale makes two point hook shot (Fred VanVleet assists)	47-36
4:22	+2	Walker Kessler makes two point tip layup	45-36
4:22		Walker Kessler offensive rebound
4:24		Keyonte George misses two point driving finger roll layup
4:37		Walker Kessler defensive rebound
4:38		Jalen Green misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:38		Rockets offensive rebound
4:38		Jalen Green misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:38		Brice Sensabaugh shooting foul (Jalen Green draws the foul)
4:43		Jalen Green offensive rebound
4:46		Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot
5:01	+3	Brice Sensabaugh makes three point jump shot (Keyonte George assists)	45-34
5:14		Jaden Springer defensive rebound
5:17		Fred VanVleet misses two point pullup jump shot
5:21		Jaden Springer personal foul (Loose ball) (Tari Eason draws the foul)
5:21		Rockets offensive rebound
5:24		Dillon Brooks misses three point pullup jump shot
5:37		Tari Eason defensive rebound
5:38		Walker Kessler misses two point cutting layup
5:52	+3	Tari Eason makes three point jump shot (Dillon Brooks assists)	45-31
5:57		Tari Eason offensive rebound
6:01		Jock Landale misses two point jump shot
6:12		Jazz 60 second timeout
6:12		Cody Williams personal foul (Loose ball) (Jabari Smith Jr. draws the foul)
6:12		Rockets offensive rebound
6:15		Fred VanVleet misses three point pullup jump shot
6:32	+2	Cody Williams makes two point cutting layup (Jaden Springer assists)	42-31
6:54	+2	Jock Landale makes two point putback layup	42-29
6:56		Jock Landale offensive rebound
6:58		Tari Eason misses two point turnaround jump shot
7:16		Walker Kessler turnover (offensive foul)
7:16		Walker Kessler offensive foul (Aaron Holiday draws the foul)
7:31	+2	Aaron Holiday makes two point layup	40-29
7:32		Cody Williams turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Holiday steals)
7:37	+2	Alperen Sengun makes two point cutting layup (Amen Thompson assists)	38-29
7:48		Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound
7:49		Collin Sexton misses two point pullup jump shot
8:01		Jaden Springer defensive rebound
8:03		Alperen Sengun misses two point driving floating jump shot
8:10		Jaden Springer personal foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul)
8:19		Collin Sexton turnover (out of bounds bad pass)
8:43	+2	Amen Thompson makes two point running layup (Fred VanVleet assists)	36-29
8:49		Amen Thompson defensive rebound
8:52		Cody Williams misses two point driving floating bank jump shot
8:59		Cody Williams defensive rebound
9:02		Aaron Holiday misses three point jump shot
9:18		Alperen Sengun defensive rebound
9:19		Kyle Filipowski misses two point jump shot
9:36		Alperen Sengun turnover (bad pass) (Collin Sexton steals)
9:52	+1	Kyle Filipowski makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-29
9:52	+1	Kyle Filipowski makes regular free throw 1 of 2	34-28
9:52		Alperen Sengun shooting foul (Kyle Filipowski draws the foul)
10:08		Fred VanVleet turnover (bad pass) (Kyle Filipowski steals)
10:13		Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound
10:15		Kyle Filipowski misses three point jump shot
10:36	+3	Jabari Smith Jr. makes three point jump shot (Aaron Holiday assists)	34-27
10:42		Kyle Filipowski personal foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul)
10:47		Amen Thompson defensive rebound
10:49		Kyle Filipowski misses three point jump shot
11:07	+2	Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point putback layup	31-27
11:09		Jabari Smith Jr. offensive rebound
11:13		Fred VanVleet misses two point pullup jump shot
11:27	+3	Brice Sensabaugh makes three point jump shot (Collin Sexton assists)	29-27
11:47	+2	Alperen Sengun makes two point driving layup	29-24

1st Quarter
HOU
Rockets
27
UTA
Jazz
24

Time		Play	Score
0:00		End of period
0:00		Rockets offensive rebound
0:00		Aaron Holiday misses three point pullup jump shot
0:02	+2	KJ Martin makes two point running layup (Cody Williams assists)	27-24
0:06		Cody Williams defensive rebound
0:08		Jalen Green misses two point driving layup
0:30		Tari Eason defensive rebound
0:33		Johnny Juzang misses two point driving floating jump shot
0:47	+3	Tari Eason makes three point jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists)	27-22
1:01	+2	Keyonte George makes two point driving layup (KJ Martin assists)	24-22
1:13	+1	Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-20
1:13	+1	Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-20
1:13		Kyle Filipowski shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul)
1:22		Cody Williams personal foul (Jalen Green draws the foul)
1:27		Jalen Green offensive rebound
1:34		Aaron Holiday misses three point jump shot
1:50	+2	KJ Martin makes two point running layup (Keyonte George assists)	22-20
1:56		Keyonte George defensive rebound
1:58		Kyle Filipowski blocks Jabari Smith Jr.'s two point cutting layup
2:08		Keyonte George personal foul (Loose ball) (Jock Landale draws the foul)
2:08		Rockets offensive rebound
2:10		Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point running jump shot
2:17		Keyonte George turnover (lost ball) (Jock Landale steals)
2:24		Rockets 60 second timeout
2:24		Tari Eason personal foul (Isaiah Collier draws the foul)
2:37	+2	Tari Eason makes two point pullup jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists)	22-18
2:57	+2	Isaiah Collier makes two point driving layup	20-18
3:17		Walker Kessler defensive rebound
3:17		Tari Eason misses three point jump shot
3:31	+2	Johnny Juzang makes two point floating jump shot (Isaiah Collier assists)	20-16
3:39		Walker Kessler defensive rebound
3:43		Jalen Green misses two point pullup jump shot
3:56	+2	Johnny Juzang makes two point pullup jump shot (Keyonte George assists)	20-14
4:11	+3	Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists)	20-12
4:15		Fred VanVleet offensive rebound
4:18		Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot
4:20		Jalen Green offensive rebound
4:22		Isaiah Collier blocks Jalen Green's two point running layup
4:27		Jalen Green defensive rebound
4:29		Keyonte George misses three point jump shot
4:45	+3	Jalen Green makes three point pullup jump shot	17-12
5:00	+3	Isaiah Collier makes three point jump shot (Johnny Juzang assists)	14-12
5:19	+2	Jock Landale makes two point putback layup	14-9
5:20		Jock Landale offensive rebound
5:21		Dillon Brooks misses two point driving layup
5:40		Jock Landale defensive rebound
5:42		Johnny Juzang misses three point jump shot
5:43		Jazz offensive rebound
5:43		Fred VanVleet blocks Isaiah Collier's two point driving layup
6:01	+2	Alperen Sengun makes two point tip layup	12-9
6:01		Alperen Sengun offensive rebound
6:02		Alperen Sengun misses two point driving hook shot
6:21	+2	Keyonte George makes two point driving floating jump shot	10-9
6:44		Johnny Juzang defensive rebound
6:45		Alperen Sengun misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:45	+1	Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 1 of 2	10-7
6:45		Walker Kessler shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul)
6:56	+1	Keyonte George makes regular free throw 2 of 2	9-7
6:56	+1	Keyonte George makes regular free throw 1 of 2	9-6
6:56		Jazz 60 second timeout
6:56		Dillon Brooks shooting foul (Keyonte George draws the foul)
7:06		Kyle Filipowski defensive rebound
7:07		Walker Kessler blocks Jalen Green's two point driving reverse layup
7:17		Isaiah Collier turnover (offensive foul)
7:17		Isaiah Collier offensive foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul)
7:32		Walker Kessler defensive rebound
7:39		Fred VanVleet misses three point pullup jump shot
7:48		Alperen Sengun defensive rebound
7:49		Kyle Filipowski misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:49	+1	Kyle Filipowski makes regular free throw 1 of 2	9-5
7:49		Amen Thompson shooting foul (Kyle Filipowski draws the foul)
8:07		Jazz defensive rebound
8:11		Dillon Brooks misses two point running layup
8:15		Alperen Sengun defensive rebound
8:16		Amen Thompson blocks Collin Sexton's two point cutting layup
8:23		Dillon Brooks turnover (out of bounds bad pass)
8:36		Alperen Sengun defensive rebound
8:37		Walker Kessler misses two point layup
8:38		Jalen Green turnover (bad pass) (Walker Kessler steals)
8:39		Jalen Green defensive rebound
8:41		Alperen Sengun blocks Collin Sexton's two point driving layup
8:54	+2	Amen Thompson makes two point cutting layup (Fred VanVleet assists)	9-4
9:05	+2	Collin Sexton makes two point cutting layup (Walker Kessler assists)	7-4
9:08		Walker Kessler offensive rebound
9:11		Cody Williams misses three point jump shot
9:31	+1	Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 2 of 2	7-2
9:31	+1	Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-2
9:31		Collin Sexton shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul)
9:42		Isaiah Collier turnover (out of bounds bad pass)
9:56		Kyle Filipowski defensive rebound
9:58		Jalen Green misses three point running jump shot
10:03		Dillon Brooks defensive rebound
10:04		Collin Sexton misses two point driving floating jump shot
10:29	+3	Dillon Brooks makes three point running pullup jump shot (Amen Thompson assists)	5-2
10:36		Amen Thompson defensive rebound
10:39		Collin Sexton misses two point driving finger roll layup
10:42		Amen Thompson personal foul (Kyle Filipowski draws the foul)
10:52	+2	Alperen Sengun makes two point reverse layup (Dillon Brooks assists)	2-2
11:12		Dillon Brooks defensive rebound
11:15		Kyle Filipowski misses three point jump shot
11:23		Walker Kessler defensive rebound
11:24		Amen Thompson misses two point driving layup
11:46	+2	Cody Williams makes two point pullup jump shot (Collin Sexton assists)	0-2
12:00		Alperen Sengun vs. Walker Kessler (Isaiah Collier gains possession)

+ 3

Collin Sexton makes three point jump shot (Keyonte George assists)