I recognize that Utah is playing its finest ball right now. The Jazz are 6-1 in their last seven games.




Houston, though, is playing well, too, winning seven of its last 10. The Rockets did lose at Portland last night. But the fatigue factor shouldn't rate high here since prior to meeting Portland, the Rocket last played on Saturday. Houston doesn't play again until Sunday. So a focused, intense effort should be forthcoming as unlike the lottery-bound Jazz, the Rockets are battling for playoff positioning.




Houston usually takes care of business against below .500 teams covering 14 of the last 18 times in that spot. The Jazz are playing excellent defense, but their last four games have been against the Celtics, 76ers, Nets and Knicks. Now they step way up in class.




The Jazz also could be without their leading scorer, Gordon Hayward. He missed Utah's last game two nights ago due to a back injury.




Houston is the superior team. The Rockets have owned the Jazz winning seven of the past eight meetings, the last three by an average of 21.3 points. It has been 10 games since the Jazz last faced an offensive player as prolific as James Harden, who ranks No. 2 in scoring in the league at 27 points a game.