Jazz Vs Rockets odds, injury updates and picks for February 23
The jazz vs rockets matchup arrives with conflicting signals: Houston is a heavy home favorite but is struggling to score, while Utah’s injury report shifted coming out of the weekend. That combination matters for a game set to tip off at 9: 30 pm ET on Monday, February 23.
Jazz Vs Rockets injury reports
Utah upgraded two notable names on its injury report: Keyonte George has been elevated to questionable from a right ankle sprain, and Lauri Markkanen is listed as probable after missing the last outing versus the Memphis Grizzlies with an illness. If both are available it would be a sizable lift for the Jazz’s offense — the pair are the team’s top-two scorers and are averaging over 50 combined points per game this season so far — and would allow coach Will Hardy’s rotation a bit more normalcy coming out of the weekend.
George has missed seven of the last eight games due to two separate ankle sprains: a left ankle sprain removed him for three games before the All-Star break, after which he returned against the Orlando Magic, and a later right ankle sprain cost him four more games. The context notes that Utah’s third-year guard might officially be good to go with the extra rest.
Rockets offensive outlook and published odds
Houston opened as a massive home favorite against Utah, but scoring has been a problem for Kevin Durant & Co. The published market shows a Rockets team total set at 120. 5, and a model pick listed Rockets team total Under 120. 5 (-115). The posted spread is Jazz +13 (-110) | Rockets -13 (-110), with an overall Game Over/Under at 228. 5 (-110) | 228. 5 (-110). A regulatory note attached to the betting commentary states the content is not intended for use in MA.
Tip-off remains scheduled for 9: 30 pm ET on Monday, February 23.
How Houston’s recent slump supports the under
The Rockets rank 26th in offensive rating over their last 12 games, a mark the context flags as worse than the Wizards. Across that 12-game stretch Houston has averaged 104. 9 points per game, listed as next-to-last, and the team hasn’t topped a 120. 5 team total in those 12 games. That string underpins the recommended Rockets team total Under 120. 5 (-115) and the broader Game Total Under trend.
Individual playmaking notes included Reed Sheppard — identified as a second-year guard — averaging 4. 0 assists over his last five games and topping 3. 5 assists three times in that span. The Jazz are described as ranking dead last in opponent assists per possession, which the forecast highlights as a counterargument to Houston’s need to move the ball more. Also noted: Lauri Markkanen has gone over his number in five of his last six games. One pithy line in the coverage read: "Rockets can't shoot. The Jazz can't rebound. Rebounds for all!"
On betting trends, the Rockets have hit the Game Total Under in 21 of their last 25 games for +16. 60 Units and a 60% ROI, a statistical nugget included in the material.
Jazz frontcourt: Nurkic out, Filipowski expected to step in
The Jazz will be without their starting center Jusuf Nurkic, who has been dealing with a nose issue for the past two games and will be sidelined once more, a situation that is said to leave Utah’s frontcourt likely looking a bit different. Kyle Filipowski is expected to handle the starting duties in Nurkic’s place; he started in that role during Utah’s latest outing against the Grizzlies and was credited with a 20-point, six-rebound, four-assist, two-steal, two-block all-around line in that game.
Context entry note: technical error line in the packet
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