The Utah Jazz have the NBA’s best record and are trying to secure the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage throughout the 2021 playoffs. The Houston Rockets, on the other hand, own the league’s worst record and are extremely short-handed, too.
That’s the backdrop to Saturday’s matchup in Salt Lake City, in which the Jazz can secure a 3-0 series sweep over the Rockets in the 2020-21 season. Both teams played Friday and are on the second half of a back-to-back, though it’s much easier for Utah — since they’re playing at home in both ends. Houston, on the other hand, did not arrive until early Saturday morning thanks to Friday night’s game in Milwaukee.
Neither team will issue their official injury report for Saturday until midday, since both played on Friday night. However, the Jazz were healthier by comparison, with only Donovan Mitchell (right ankle), Mike Conley (right hamstring), and Juwan Morgan (right heel) sidelined.
By comparison, the Rockets were missing 10 of their 17 players under contract, including Christian Wood (right ankle), John Wall (right hamstring), Jae’Sean Tate (left knee), Eric Gordon (right groin), Sterling Brown (left knee), Kevin Porter Jr. (left ankle), Avery Bradley (personal reasons), Dante Exum (left calf), David Nwaba (right wrist), and D.J. Wilson (health and safety protocols). Houston was able to have eight active players for Friday, which is the minimum requirement to play, by signing young guard Khyri Thomas via an NBA hardship exception.
Houston’s eight players in Friday’s loss to Milwaukee were Thomas, Kelly Olynyk, DJ Augustin, Danuel House Jr., Armoni Brooks, KJ Martin, DaQuan Jeffries, and Anthony Lamb. That’s enough to play, but it’s a hard formula to win with versus the NBA’s elite. Head coach Stephen Silas said he was not anticipating major availability changes between Friday and Saturday, with Wood already ruled out due to ongoing ankle issues.
The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Jazz -15.5
- Money line: Jazz -1600 / Rockets +900
- Over-under: 225.5
- Player scoring props: TBD (delayed injury reports)
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If available players and lineups from Friday hold, the Jazz (49-18) will start Joe Ingles, Royce O’Neale, Bojan Bogdanovic, Georges Niang, and Rudy Gobert. Meanwhile, the Rockets (16-51) could have DJ Augustin, DaQuan Jeffries, Anthony Lamb, KJ Martin, and Kelly Olynyk.
Advice and prediction
The Rockets are at a talent and injury disadvantage. Moreover, Houston’s short-handed roster is on the second night of a back-to-back, at altitude, and in a different time zone from where they played a night earlier.
It would be a shock if this game is close. It is worth noting that Houston covered a similar spread in Friday’s eight-point loss at Milwaukee, but they’re likely to be much more fatigued in Utah. Moreover, a 25-of-53 performance on 3-pointers (47.2%) likely isn’t sustainable.
Prediction: Jazz 118, Rockets 100
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