Houston Rockets vs Utah Jazz Picks and Predictions April 2nd 2025

Rockets Look to Rebound Against Jazz After Missed Opportunity

After falling just short in a tight contest against the Lakers on Monday night, the Houston Rockets return home with urgency and a goal: reclaim momentum and solidify their grip on the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Their next opponent? A Utah Jazz squad that’s heading toward a historically rough season but showing flashes of growth through its young core.

Wednesday’s matchup marks the second meeting in less than a week between the two teams. Houston (49-27) dominated the first contest, winning 121-110 in Salt Lake City behind a 33-point outing from Alperen Sengun and a well-rounded offensive attack that saw seven players score in double figures.

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Despite their recent 104-98 loss to the Lakers, the Rockets are still slightly ahead of Denver in the race for the second seed, with six games to play — including a crucial home showdown against the Nuggets on the final day of the regular season.

“We’ve won more than we’ve lost and lost some of those last year. I felt there’s improvement overall,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “(Monday) night, offensively we weren’t good enough. We guarded well enough — without the late free throws we basically hold them to 100 — but some of our best players had an off-night shooting.”

Before the loss, Houston had taken 12 of its last 13 games, proving that this young squad is growing into one of the Western Conference’s most dangerous threats.

Jazz Search for Silver Linings in Difficult Season

For Utah (16-60), this season has been less about wins and more about long-term development. Monday’s 110-106 loss to Charlotte was a milestone — just not the kind teams celebrate. With that defeat, the Jazz hit the 60-loss mark for the first time in franchise history, breaking the record previously held by the 1974-75 New Orleans Jazz.

Yet, amid the growing pains, there are signs of promise. Rookie Isaiah Collier set a new franchise rookie assist record on Monday, surpassing Hall of Famer John Stockton’s previous mark of 415. Collier, now at 419 assists with six games left, has averaged an impressive 7.7 assists as a starter.

“There’s no way the level that he’s at from a decision-making standpoint that he showed up here with nothing,” Jazz coach Will Hardy told KSL.com. “That would be impossible. I would imagine some of it may have been hidden.”

While Collier’s shooting (25 percent from three) remains a concern, his court vision and playmaking ability have impressed the coaching staff and could be a cornerstone for Utah’s rebuild.

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“So we need to give them opportunity to do that, and that’s what we’re doing every night,” Hardy added. “You don’t know who’s going to be great until you give them the chance to be.”

Rockets Eye Playoff Positioning, Jazz Focus on Future

Houston has plenty on the line — the opportunity to lock in a high playoff seed and maintain rhythm heading into the postseason. The Jazz, meanwhile, are focused on providing meaningful reps for their young players and finding out who can be part of their future.

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With both teams bringing very different goals into Wednesday’s contest, the game should serve as another checkpoint for the Rockets’ title aspirations — and a glimpse into the Jazz’s long game.

If you’re betting on which team covers or makes the leap late in the season, don’t miss our expert NBA picks and real-time predictions to help guide your strategy.