HOUSTON (Interstat) — The Houston Rockets, firmly positioned in the Western Conference playoff picture, will look to continue their winning ways when they host the struggling Utah Jazz on Monday night at Toyota Center. The Rockets (34-20) enter on a high note after a 105-101 road victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 19, a game in which veteran forward Kevin Durant scored 35 points. Durant has been a consistent force, averaging 24.9 points over his last 10 contests. Houston has won seven of its last 10 games overall. Utah (18-39), meanwhile, is navigating a difficult season and has lost two straight, including a 123-114 defeat at Memphis on Friday. Rookie forward Kyle Filipowski has been a bright spot, posting 20 points and six rebounds in that loss. Over his last 10 games, Filipowski has four double-doubles, including a 16-point, 16-rebound performance in a win over Indiana on Feb. 3. The teams split a two-game set in Utah to open December. The Jazz won the most recent meeting 133-125 on Dec. 1, 2025, after the Rockets claimed a 129-101 victory the previous night. Houston’s defense, ranked in the top half of the league, will be tested by a Utah offense that has shown flashes, scoring 121 points or more in three of its last five wins. However, the Jazz have the league’s worst defensive rating, a vulnerability Durant and the Rockets’ offense will aim to exploit. The Rockets will be without guard Jalen Green, who is serving a one-game league suspension. For Utah, guard Keyonte George remains out with a left calf strain. Following this matchup, Houston begins a three-game road trip in Orlando on Thursday. Utah returns home to host New Orleans on Thursday.