Feb 23, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets ahead Jabari Smith Jr. (10) grabs a defensive rebound in opposition to Utah Jazz ahead Cody Williams (5) within the second quarter at Toyota Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Thomas Shea-Imagn Photos Jabari Smith Jr. scored a game-high 31 factors, Kevin Durant and Tari Eason chipped in double-doubles and the Houston Rockets rolled to a 125-105 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz on Monday.
Smith shot 12 of 17, drilled six 3-pointers and grabbed 9 rebounds to ignite the Rockets, who received for the fourth time in six video games. Durant paired 18 factors with a season-high 12 assists whereas Eason logged 11 factors and 10 rebounds.
Amen Thompson added 20 factors on 8-for-9 capturing and pulled down seven rebounds for the Rockets, who dominated the glass with a plus-16 margin.
Houston’s Alperen Sengun flirted with a triple-double (16 factors, 9 rebounds and 9 assists). Reed Sheppard tallied 15 factors on 5 3-pointers off the bench.
Lauri Markkanen scored 29 factors however missed 9 of 10 from behind the arc for the Jazz, who performed with out Keyonte George (ankle), their second-leading scorer. Brice Sensabaugh posted 26 factors and 4 treys as Utah took its third loss in a row.
Behind Smith, the Rockets erased an early turnover-fueled deficit with a hail of 3-pointers. Utah, courtesy of its full-court stress, seized a fast 9-6 lead earlier than Smith caught fireplace. Smith scored 14 first-quarter factors on 4 3-pointers and a fastbreak dunk, and Houston carried a 38-22 lead into the second interval after drilling 8 of 13 from behind the arc.
Durant, who nailed a 3-pointer simply earlier than the interval expired, and Sheppard hit two 3-pointers every within the first.
The Rockets missed all three of their 3-point tries within the second however countered with a whopping 26 factors within the paint. The Jazz opened the second with a 13-2 blitz that shaved the deficit to 40-35, just for the Rockets to reply with a flurry of transition baskets.
Durant was the catalyst of the fastbreak assault. He recorded six assists within the second quarter, and Houston scored 14 fastbreak factors within the interval. Thompson sank a floater within the lane off a Sengun display for a 58-37 lead with 3:58 to go within the second, and Houston took a 68-47 lead into halftime.
Smith gave the Rockets an 86-56 benefit on a fadeaway jumper with 5:22 left within the third quarter.
Houston ultimately led by as many as 33 factors. On the plus aspect for the Jazz, they transformed 27 Rockets turnovers into 34 factors.
–Area Stage Media
