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Utah Jazz Drop Second Straight After All-Star Break, Return Home For Important Stretch

HOUSTON — The Utah Jazz dropped their second straight since returning from the All-Star break, falling to the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center 125-105.

Lauri Markkanen and Brice Sensabaugh led the way for Utah with 29 and 26 points, respectively. Outside of Sensabaugh, who shot 4/8, the cold hand hit the Jazz early, and they finished just 8/44 from three-point range.

The Jazz will now return home for three straight, two back-to-back against New Orleans and the third against Denver. The Pelicans are right in the range of Utah in the standings, and losses bring them no benefit as they don’t have their own first-round pick in the upcoming draft.

Pregame

pic.twitter.com/0ECx9JbVwb

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

work before the work 💼 pic.twitter.com/CnU46vNJiD

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

Lauri’s BACK! 🇫🇮#StartingLineup pic.twitter.com/yuYPAe8s7k

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

First Quarter

The Finnisher wasted no time getting us going 🫡 pic.twitter.com/B2hfiTcwBD

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

The Jazz’s length is on full display here early in Houston. Lots of deflections and lanes are closing quickly.

Sneak peek into next season with Kessler and JJJ.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) February 24, 2026

Houston, we have lift off 🚀♠️ pic.twitter.com/lmbgWEgrUu

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

Ace Bailey is having one of his weird “is he actually 6’11?” games.

Some nights–maybe it’s the matchup, or maybe it’s the uniform–he looks extremely tall.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 24, 2026

The @utahjazz jumped out to a 9-6 lead, but the @houstonrockets responded with an 11-2 run, and lead 17-11 midway through the first.

Every Jazz starter has scored. #takenote pic.twitter.com/VOaABBhhFp

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 24, 2026

𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗽pin’ it up, 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗽pin’ it in 🎯 pic.twitter.com/O0Duv30WGZ

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

13-2 Houston run ended with a Kyle Filipowski three.

It’ll be a big 6 weeks for Flip as the main center.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) February 24, 2026

Poor transition defense from the Jazz there.

VWJ goes for the back-court steal and leaves Konchar to guard both the ball and the corner. Reed Sheppard drills the three.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) February 24, 2026

You will be able to score at the rim against the Jazz for the next 25 games.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 24, 2026

The Jazz forced nine turnovers and had three offensive rebounds to Houston’s one…

But Utah shot 30% from the floor and 8% from three compared to 67 and 62 percent for the Rockets. Tough.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) February 24, 2026

gettin’ Jitty on a monday 🕺 pic.twitter.com/HpiTkIyEkY

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

After one, the @utahjazz trail the @HoustonRockets 38-22 after one.

Lauri Markkanen has 8 points, but the Jazz are shooting just 1-12 from three. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/a3lz6U3BY0

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 24, 2026

Second Quarter

tough Finnishes are back on the menu 👨‍🍳 pic.twitter.com/M92vBMSRa0

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

Vince Williams just went down in front of the Jazz’s bench after a turnover and was very slow to get up.

He’s getting a lot of run for the Jazz right now, and with Keyonte George out, he’s been the backup point guard.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 24, 2026

sold the fake to perfection 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/uEPuGJriRt

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

With 6:45 left in the first half, the @utahjazz trail the @HoustonRockets 50-37.

Jazz were already shorthanded, and appeared to lose Vince Williams Jr. to a scary-looking knee injury. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/TOvmfAMtzW

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 24, 2026

Vince Williams Jr. has been ruled out for the remainder of the game with his knee injury.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 24, 2026

it was all part of the plan 😏 pic.twitter.com/VXvYkVpju5

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

it’s not how you start the play, it’s how you 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇 🇫🇮 pic.twitter.com/RZxzNGhZwm

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

Kevin Durant has 9 (!?) first-half assists.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) February 24, 2026

The @houstonrockets are blowing out the @utahjazz 68-47 at the half.

Houston is shooting 63 percent from the floor, including 12-14 at the rim. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/5MsBq7a24n

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 24, 2026

some work to do after the break. pic.twitter.com/m7vqkcvXom

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

Third Quarter

turning defense to offense 🔄 pic.twitter.com/vWGnlU3CqU

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

The Rockets have grabbed 35 defensive rebounds to Utah’s 14 through three quarters.

Part of that is due to the difference in missed shots. Still, can’t get killed on the glass like that.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) February 24, 2026

Through three, the @HoustonRockets lead the @utahjazz 100-75.

Lauri Markkanen has 21 points, but is shooting just 1-10 from three. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/YB25l1IZgs

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 24, 2026

final 12 on the clock. pic.twitter.com/e9VSucrrEE

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

Fourth Quarter

Brice Sensabaugh just hit the Harden “double” stepback and got a look of approval from KD.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) February 24, 2026

Brice three counter: 🥶🥶🥶🥶 pic.twitter.com/LpouMAavvN

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

King of the outlet pass 👉 King of the North 👑 pic.twitter.com/nNQe6iXEhA

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

back home on thursday. pic.twitter.com/BKoPp1YOi9

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 24, 2026

Follow the Utah Jazz with KSL Sports

All Jazz games will be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM). Occasionally, KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) will also pick up games.

Utah Jazz fans can watch the team’s games next season for free over the air on KJZZ TV and can stream the games through a paid streaming-based platform on the team’s website. KJZZ is currently broadcast on channel 14.1.

Find all of our Utah Jazz coverage here.

Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on* 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone . Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram *@BensHoops, or on BlueSky.

Chandler Holt is a co-host of theJazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer forKSLSports.com. FollowChandler on Xfor Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.

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