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Game Thread - Houston Rockets @ Utah Jazz

First the bad news... Deron, Memo, and AK are out. That gives us a starting lineup of Watson, Bell, Hayward, Millsap, and Jefferson. CJ will be the first off the bench barring foul trouble.

Sloan should stick to a tight rotation. I guess it's tight by default given that we only have 10 guys available. The starters and CJ will get a majority of the minutes with Price spelling Watson for about 10 minutes while Elson and Evans getting the main backup minutes. With Brad Miller and Yao out, Fesenko's size isn't needed as much. Though if Millsap or Jefferson get into foul trouble, he'll be used more.

The good news is that the Rockets are finishing up a four-game road trip and lost last night in OT to the Lakers, their third loss in a row. They got in late so if the Jazz can keep the game manageable, they should be able to put them away in the fourth.

In the last meeting in Houston, the Jazz were able to come back yet again and force OT where they won 103-99. Despite shooting just 38% in that game, the Rockets were able to go to the line 38 times, converting on 28. They also only shot 3-25 from the arc in that game. They hoisted 38 last night against the Lakers, making just 10. So they will jack up threes. They're third in the league in attempts and shoot 36% overall (14).