Jazz Vs Rockets: Odds, Prediction and Injury Updates Ahead of 9:30 pm ET Tip-Off

The latest Jazz Vs Rockets matchup brings a compressed storyline: Houston enters as a heavy home favorite but is struggling to score, while Utah’s injury report shows potential returns that could reshape the game. Tip-off is scheduled for 9: 30 pm ET on Monday, February 23, and the betting model highlighted a Rockets team total Under 120. 5 as the best bet.

Jazz Vs Rockets odds, prediction, time

The market lists a spread of Jazz +13 (-110) and Rockets -13 (-110) with an Over/Under of 228. 5 (-110). The model pick for this game favors the Rockets team total Under 120. 5 (-115). The case for the Under leans on Houston’s prolonged scoring issues: the Rockets rank 26th in offensive rating over their last 12 games and have averaged just 104. 9 points per game over that stretch, a mark described as next-to-last. Notably, Houston has not topped 120. 5 points in any of those 12 games.

Rockets’ scoring struggles and model rationale

Despite a roster that includes Kevin Durant & Co., Houston has been unable to consistently produce buckets. The betting model treats the team total as inflated; historical trends support a conservative scoring expectation for the Rockets, who have hit the Game Total Under in 21 of their last 25 games, producing +16. 60 Units and a 60% ROI in that sample.

Jazz injury report: Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkic and Kyle Filipowski

Utah’s injury report contains meaningful movement. Keyonte George has been elevated to questionable from a right ankle sprain. George has missed seven of the Jazz’s last eight games due to two separate ankle sprains: a left ankle sprain that sidelined him for three games before the All-Star break and a later right ankle sprain that cost him four games; he returned against the Orlando Magic. Lauri Markkanen is listed as probable after missing the prior game versus the Memphis Grizzlies with an illness.

If both George and Markkanen are available, that represents a significant offensive boost: the two players average over 50 combined points per game during the season and would return normalcy to Will Hardy’s rotation.

One confirmed absence for Utah is starting center Jusuf Nurkic, who has been dealing with a nose issue over the past two games and will be sidelined once more. Expect Kyle Filipowski to start in Nurkic’s place; Filipowski started in Nurkic’s spot against the Grizzlies and produced a stat line of 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks in that outing.

Matchups and what to watch at tip-off

• Tip-off timing: 9: 30 pm ET on Monday, February 23.
• Houston’s path to more points: better ball movement; Reed Sheppard has been a facilitator experiment, averaging 4. 0 assists over his last five games and topping 3. 5 assists three times in that span.
• Jazz defensive form: after a shaky start, Utah ranks 10th in defensive rating since February 1, making this matchup less straightforward than the line suggests.
• Assist and rebound dynamics: Utah still ranks dead last in opponent assists per possession, while Lauri Markkanen has gone over his number in five of his last six games—factors that could influence live lines and prop values.

Betting lines, trends and notes

Key published lines for this game include Rockets team total 120. 5 (best bet Under), spread Jazz +13 / Rockets -13, and Game Total 228. 5. The Rockets’ recent tendency toward lower game totals is strong context for fading inflated team totals. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

Logistics and an odd entry

An unrelated entry in aggregated coverage lists the phrase "429 Too Many Requests, " an out-of-context item that does not change the on-court picture but is present in the compiled material for this slate.

Recent updates indicate the status of players and lines may evolve before tip-off; details may change and availability could be finalized closer to game time.