UTAH JAZZ

Utah Jazz Facing Houston Rockets For First Time Since 2019 Postseason Exit

Jan 26, 2020, 10:21 PM | Updated: Jan 27, 2020, 1:18 am

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Fresh off of four straight wins, the Utah Jazz will face the Houston Rockets for the first time of the 2019-20 season as well as the first time since suffering a 4-1 series defeat in the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

Utah hosts Houston at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Monday, January 27.

The Jazz have yet to play the Rockets this season. The two teams last met during the first round of the 2019 NBA postseason. Houston soundly defeated Utah four games to one.

Postseason Exit

The Rockets opened the Western Conference’s first-round matchup with Jazz by taking a 3-0 lead. Wanting to prevent a series sweep, Donovan Mitchell carried the Jazz to a 107-91 victory in game four at home. In the win, Mitchell scored 19 of his 31 points during the fourth quarter.

Houston halted Utah’s comeback attempt with a 100-93 win in game five to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

Jazz Acquisitions

After the season-ending loss, then-general manager and current Jazz executive vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey said the franchise would look to add “a sniper at any position” during the offseason to combat Utah’s weaknesses exposed by the Rockets.

Utah would go on to trade for veteran guard and borderline all-star Mike Conley from the Memphis Grizzlies. The Jazz would then sign forward Bojan Bogdanovic at the start of free agency.

Conley recently returned to the court after missing a month due to a hamstring injury. He is averaging 12.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 26 games this season.

Bogdanovic is averaging 21.1 points per contest this season. He’s been able to provide the Jazz offense more spacing by shooting 45.2 percent overall and 41.6 percent from downtown this season.

2019-20 Season

After a slow start to the season, Lindsey and Jazz general manager Justin Zanik acquired veteran sixth man Jordan Clarkson from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Clarkson is scoring 14.3 percent points per game off the bench this season.

45 games into the 2019-20 season, the Jazz own the second-best record in the Western Conference and sit four games ahead of the Rockets in the standings.

Four Jazzmen (Georges Niang, Royce O’Neale, Joe Ingles, and Bogan Bogdanovic) rank among the top 25 NBA players in three-point shooting this season.

The new-look Jazz are still led by Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell who are having all-star caliber season.

Gobert is averaging 15.7 points on 68.9 percent shooting this season. He is recording 14.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.0 blocks per contest.

Mitchell leads the Jazz in scoring with 24.7 points on 45.9 percent shooting including 38.9 percent from behind the arc. He ranks No. 14 in scoring in the league. He is averaging 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.1 steals a game.

Renewed Rockets

Houston also looks different than the 2018-19 Rockets that defeated the Jazz in the playoffs. After a 4-2 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the postseason, the Rockets also made offseason changes to their roster.

Point guard Chris Paul was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for all-star Russell Westbrook.

Forward Kenneth Faried was waived.

Former Jazzman Thabo Selofosha, forward Ryan Anderson, and center Tyson Chandler all signed offseason deals with Southwest Divison squad.

The Rockets are led by James Harden who scores a league-best 36.1 points per game.

Westbrook ranks No. 10 in league scoring with 25.8 points. He is also averaging 8.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists per contest.

Monday Matchup

Houston plays Utah on the second game of a back-to-back. The Rockets fell 117-110 to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, January 26.

Harden is doubtful for the game with a thigh injury and Westbrook is expected to sit.

The Rockets own a 28-17 overall record and are 13-10 away from H-Town.

Utah sits at 32-13 on the season and 18-3 at home.

The Jazz and Rockets are scheduled to tip-off on Monday, January 27 at 7 p.m. (MDT). The game will broadcast on NBATV and 97.5 FM.

  • Utah Jazz Scoreboard

  • Utah Jazz Team Leaders

  • Utah Jazz Standings

Utah Jazz

Michael Rapino, CEO of and President of Live Nation (left), Ryan Smith (center), chairman of SEG, a...

Ben Anderson

SEG, Live Nation To Open Music Venue Near Delta Center

SEG and Live Nation Entertainment announced plans to build a mid-size indoor music venue downtown near Delta Center.

2 days ago

Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets blocks a shot by Kyle Filipowski #22 of the Utah Jazz as Jock...

Ben Anderson

Jazz Mailbag: How Quickly Could The Rebuild End?

Welcome to the Utah Jazz mailbag, where this week we explore how quickly this current rebuild could end.

2 days ago

Oscar Tshiebwe #34 of the Utah Jazz...

Brian Preece

Jazz Re-Sign Oscar Tshiebwe To Two-Way Deal

The Utah Jazz, already one of the youngest teams in the NBA, got a little bit younger after signing former Kentucky Wildcat Oscar Tshiebwe to a two-way contract.

2 days ago

Utah Jazz Utah Mammoth Delta Center 2025-26 season...

Brian Preece

Jazz, Mammoth Games Overlap 25 Times In 2025-26 Season

The Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth are scheduled to play on the same night 25 times this season, beginning with five dates in November.

6 days ago

John Stockton #12 of the Utah Jazz | Softer NBA...

Ben Anderson

John Stockton Criticizes ‘Softer’ Modern NBA

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz legend John Stockton said he believes today’s NBA is “softer” than in years past. In an appearance on “The Maverick Approach” podcast, which often explores conspiracy theories, Stockton shared his views on how the NBA has evolved. Related: John Stockton Gets Shoutout At Super Bowl John Stockton Calls Modern […]

6 days ago

Utah Jazz schedule 2025-26...

Ben Anderson

Utah Jazz 2025-26 Schedule Released

The Utah Jazz released their schedule for the 2025-26 season, marking the 52nd campaign for the franchise.

7 days ago

Sponsored Articles

kaneal sweetwyne tosses football...

Utah County High School Player of the Week – Week 1 – Kaneal Sweetwyne

Our first honoree of the 2025 prep season is Skyridge High School quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne.

salt lake county player of the week...

Salt Lake County High School Basketball Players of the Week – Week 13

The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school basketball players in Salt Lake County.

salt lake county player of the week...

Salt Lake County High School Basketball Players of the Week – Week 12

The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school basketball players in Salt Lake County.

salt lake county player of the week...

Salt Lake County High School Basketball Players of the Week – Week 11

The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school basketball players in Salt Lake County.

salt lake county player of the week...

Salt Lake County High School Basketball Players of the Week – Week 10

The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school basketball players in Salt Lake County.

salt lake county player of the week...

Salt Lake County High School Basketball Players of the Week – Week 9

The Hercules Salt Lake County High School Player of the Week is celebrating the best high school basketball players in Salt Lake County.

Page was generated in 0.44189310073853