Rockets vs Jazz Prediction and Betting Odds

The NBA Cup returns to the schedule, with the Houston Rockets hosting the Utah Jazz.

The two teams will play their second game of the tournament, having both lost their first. This game will tip off at 10:30 AEST on Saturday, November 14.

Both come in on an opening loss, and with the group standings now in play, our guide to the NBA Cup explained walks through how teams advance from here.

Quick Picks

Our pick: Rockets to win

Value bet: Houston double-digit win margin

Long shot: Sengun to record a triple-double

Betting Preview

Both teams were beaten by the Dallas Mavericks in their first matches. The Mavs recorded a five-point victory over the Rockets, winning 116-111, before defeating the Jazz a little more easily by 12 (112-100).

Houston had held a lead of 7 points at the half, but they were outscored by 13 points in the final quarter of the game, giving the win to the Mavs.

Kevin Durant scored 28 points for the Rockets, while Jabari Smith Jr. added 22 to the total. Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, and Tari Eason also had double-digit scores in the game.

In the Jazz’s match, Lauri Markkanen led his side with 24 points, with Darryn Peterson scoring 21. Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, and Josh Okogie also reached double digits.

Interestingly, the game was tied at 57-57 at half-time, but a poor third quarter saw the Mavs build a lead that couldn’t be caught.

While both teams struggled to handle Cooper Flagg, both allowed a significant number of field goals and three-point attempts. So, both are going to need to tighten up defensively for this clash.

Betting Markets to Watch

The early betting odds are likely to favour the Rockets, especially if recent form is reflected in the prices being offered.

Houston have a much better league record than the Jazz, winning nine of their 11 games so far and sitting third in the Western Conference. The Rockets head into the match on the back of a 115-108 win over the Golden State.

Utah, meanwhile, have struggled, having found winning extremely rare so far this season. In fact, they are on a 10-game losing streak, and sit bottom of the league.

A double-digit winning margin could offer value for the Rockets. Houston can attack through Kevin Durant’s shot-making, Alperen Sengun’s interior offence and playmaking, and Amen Thompson’s athleticism. Fred VanVleet’s return also gives them another experienced organiser.

This means they have several routes on offence and don’t have to restrict their play to focus on a single threat. In contrast, the Jazz have been poor on offence. They have been extremely inconsistent and have found it difficult to get to the rim.

Through the early part of the season, they were also taking a league-high proportion of their shots from mid-range, limiting their effectiveness and the number of points they could score.

They’ve also been dreadful on the road. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic could both be unavailable, which will limit their scoring ability further.

Our Prediction

Check the latest NBA betting odds at Sportsbet. Our prediction is for the Rockets to win, with value in a double-digit win.

If you are weighing up the margin and triple-double markets here, our guide on how to bet on NBA games runs through how these selections work.

Our long shot is Sengun to record a triple-double. He posted 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists against Minnesota earlier in the month, and he has come close on other occasions this season already.

He had 26 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists against Boston, and 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists against Oklahoma City. In a game in which Houston are likely to dominate, he could be in for a big night.