(My Sportsbook) - The Houston Rockets will open a three-game homestand Saturday when the Utah Jazz pay a visit to the Toyota Center. Houston will also host Washington and Milwaukee and is 9-3 as the host this season. The Rockets, who are unbeaten in their last six home games, have dropped two straight overall since a four-game winning streak and suffered an 88-79 setback at New Orleans on Friday. Yao Ming scored 19 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Rockets, who played without Ron Artest due to a sore right ankle. Artest is questionable for tonight. Tracy McGrady posted 11 points, five rebounds and four assists in a losing effort. Utah has won three of its last five games and is coming off a 97-88 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, as Ronnie Brewer scored 21 points and Kosta Koufos added 18 and eight rebounds to lead the way. Deron Williams finished with 17 points, 13 assists and four steals for the shorthanded Jazz, who got nine points and a game-high 14 boards from Andrei Kirilenko. Utah won despite being without forwards Carlos Boozer (knee), Mehmet Okur (back) and Paul Millsap, who found out Friday he will be out 7-10 days with a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Okur is doubtful against Houston and Boozer is out indefinitely. The Jazz have dropped two straight and three of five road games, and are 7-9 away from Salt Lake City this season. Utah, however, has won two straight and 10 of the past 15 matchups with the Rockets. Houston is winless in the last two meetings as the host. |
