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Houston Rockets Vs. Utah Jaz Game Preview

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 3: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket during the game against the Utah Jazz on April 3, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

First off, my sincerest apologies for the late preview. The Microsoft outage yesterday did not allow me to sign into our story editor and therefore I was moored without a way back to civilization.

Today, the Houston Rockets continue their NBA Cup journey. Houston is 0-1 in Group A play, but winning out would give Houston a decent chance to advance. That still includes a road game in Denver, so the odds aren’t great. Still, even if you don’t care at all about the Falcon, tonight’s game counts just like any other game in the standings. The Rockets have recovered a bit from their two-game dip, and now they’re trying to get back to the way they were playing earlier in the season.

The Utah Jazz are 1-11 with their sole win coming at home to the New Orleans Pelicans by a single point. They’ve been in plenty of other games, with the common thread being that they’re much tougher to play at home (“Wow AK what a surprise”). Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. are hurt, which should give way to a big night for Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.

This is a scary game for Houston because you can easily see the path to an embarrassing defeat: Houston doesn’t take the Jazz seriously, who get off to a great start, led by Keyonte George, Brice Sensabaugh, Isaiah Collier, all of whom have had great nights against Houston in the last couple of years. Then Darryn Peterson finally has the game that proves he should have been the top pick in the draft and finishes Houston with an array of floaters and jumpers. Will it happen? Probably not. But you can see it.