Utah Jazz Overcome Houston Rockets 133-125 in Salt Lake City Showdown

The Utah Jazz clinched a hard-fought 133-125 victory against the Houston Rockets Monday evening in Salt Lake City, powered by standout performances from Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George. Markkanen contributed 29 points while George added 28 points and led the team with eight assists. Jusuf Nurkic also played a key role, scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds as seven Jazz players reached double figures, helping Utah secure its second win in three outings.

The Rockets, underpinned by Kevin Durant's 32 points and nine rebounds, as well as Alperen Sengun's 31 points and 14 assists, mounted a strong comeback attempt. Amen Thompson added 23 points for Houston. Despite their efforts and a fiery 12-0 run to close the third quarter that cut Utah's 21-point lead to just one point, the Rockets fell short and could not extend their five-game road win streak. Houston has won eight of its last ten games overall.

Trailing 114-113 with just over five minutes left, Houston's Durant scored back-to-back baskets, igniting the rally. However, Markkanen and George countered with consecutive three-pointers, pushing Utah's lead to 120-113 with just over four minutes remaining.

In the closing minute, Sengun drove for a layup, narrowing the gap to 126-123, but George's clutch free throws (5 of 6) and a crucial steal sealed the victory for the Jazz.

The Jazz started strong, quickly avoiding the early double-digit deficit they suffered the previous night. Early in the first quarter, Houston held a four-point lead several times, with Thompson's dunk giving them a 26-22 advantage.

However, Utah took control in the second quarter with a three-point play by Walter Clayton Jr. that put them ahead 40-37. They built on this momentum to lead 68-57 at halftime, limiting Houston to just one field goal in the final 2:58 of the half.

The Jazz continued to dominate in the third quarter, sparked by back-to-back baskets from George and Kevin Love during a 16-7 run that expanded their lead to 98-77, with Nurkic finishing the rally with a hook shot.

The victory marks a strong rebound for Utah after their previous night's loss to Houston, demonstrating their resilience and depth in a competitive matchup.