Game ID: 22500830
Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets
Monday, February 23, 2026 at 9:30 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 38 30 32 25 125UTA 22 25 28 30 105
HOU vs UTA ScoutingHOU vs UTA Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
HOU availability going into 2/10 · 2 days' restNEW Eason 26 to 32 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 2/11 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
HOU availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
NEW Eason 26 to 31 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 2/21 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 4 since 2/07, out tonight
NEW Eason 26 to 33 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restOUT Okogie missed 2 since 2/19, returns tonight: 13 min (74% of 17)
OUT Holiday missed 5 since 2/07, returns tonight: 6 min (44% of 14)
NEW Eason 26 to 33 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restBACK Okogie back 2/23 after 2, 13 min since (74% of 17)
BACK Holiday back 2/23 after 5, 6 min since (44% of 14)
NEW Eason 26 to 33 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backBACK Okogie back 2/23 after 2, 18 min since (106% of 17)
BACK Holiday back 2/23 after 5, 13 min since (98% of 14)
NEW Finney-Smith 16 to 21 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restBACK Okogie back 2/23 after 2, 19 min since (110% of 17)
BACK Holiday back 2/23 after 5, 13 min since (98% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restBACK Okogie back 2/23 after 2, 16 min since (94% of 17)
BACK Holiday back 2/23 after 5, 12 min since (86% of 14)
UTA availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 48 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 39 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK George back 2/07 after 3, 13 min since (40% of 33)
BACK Nurkić back 2/07 after 2, 24 min since (90% of 26)
BACK Love back 2/01 after 2, 14 min since (83% of 17)
BACK Tshiebwe back 2/05 after 18, 10 min since (60% of 17)
NEW Bailey 28 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Collier 26 to 37 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 49 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Mykhailiuk missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 40 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK George back 2/07 after 3, 13 min since (40% of 33)
BACK Nurkić back 2/07 after 2, 24 min since (91% of 26)
BACK Love back 2/01 after 2, 14 min since (83% of 17)
NEW Bailey 28 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Collier 26 to 38 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 2/12 · back-to-backOUT George missed 2 since 2/09, out tonight
OUT Kessler missed 50 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Mykhailiuk missed 3 since 2/07, returns tonight: 18 min (76% of 23)
OUT Harkless missed 41 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 3 since 2/07, returns tonight: 5 min (30% of 17)
BACK Nurkić back 2/07 after 2, 25 min since (94% of 26)
BACK Love back 2/07 after 2, 14 min since (84% of 17)
NEW Bailey 28 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Collier 26 to 38 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT George missed 3 since 2/09, out tonight
OUT Kessler missed 51 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 42 since 11/21, returns tonight: 7 min (35% of 21)
BACK Nurkić back 2/07 after 2, 25 min since (94% of 26)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 2/12 after 3, 18 min since (76% of 23)
BACK Love back 2/07 after 2, 14 min since (84% of 17)
BACK Tshiebwe back 2/05 after 18, 7 min since (45% of 17)
NEW Bailey 28 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Collier 26 to 35 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 2/23 · 2 days' restOUT Markkanen missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 32 min (94% of 34)
OUT George missed 4 since 2/09, out tonight
OUT Kessler missed 52 since 11/02, out tonight
BACK Nurkić back 2/07 after 2, 25 min since (94% of 26)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 2/12 after 3, 18 min since (76% of 23)
BACK Harkless back 2/20 after 42, 7 min since (35% of 21)
BACK Love back 2/07 after 2, 11 min since (67% of 17)
BACK Tshiebwe back 2/12 after 3, 10 min since (58% of 17)
NEW Bailey 28 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Collier 26 to 31 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 2/26 · 2 days' restOUT George missed 5 since 2/09, out tonight
OUT Kessler missed 53 since 11/02, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 2/23 after 2, 32 min since (94% of 34)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 2/12 after 3, 14 min since (61% of 23)
BACK Harkless back 2/20 after 42, 11 min since (52% of 21)
BACK Tshiebwe back 2/12 after 3, 10 min since (58% of 17)
UTA availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT George missed 6 since 2/09, returns tonight: 23 min (71% of 33)
OUT Kessler missed 54 since 11/02, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 2/23 after 2, 32 min since (94% of 34)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 2/12 after 3, 14 min since (62% of 23)
BACK Harkless back 2/20 after 42, 14 min since (67% of 21)
BACK Tshiebwe back 2/12 after 3, 10 min since (58% of 17)
UTA availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 55 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 2 since 2/26, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 2/23 after 2, 32 min since (94% of 34)
BACK George back 2/28 after 6, 23 min since (71% of 33)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 2/12 after 3, 14 min since (62% of 23)
BACK Harkless back 2/20 after 42, 18 min since (84% of 21)
BACK Tshiebwe back 2/12 after 3, 10 min since (57% of 17)
UTA availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 56 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 3 since 2/26, returns tonight: 21 min (110% of 19)
BACK Markkanen back 2/23 after 2, 32 min since (94% of 34)
BACK George back 2/28 after 6, 27 min since (81% of 33)
BACK Harkless back 2/20 after 42, 19 min since (93% of 21)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 103, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Smith Jr. at 17 a game. Without Okogie (2 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 22 and Markkanen at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Markkanen (2 straight), George (4 straight), Kessler (52 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 103 a night to Utah's 116 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 19 times a game to Houston's 16. Call it Houston 117, Utah 110.
2/10 vs LAC 102-95 — HOU notes
HOU won 102-95. HOU shot 46% (36 of 79) to LAC's 41%, 14 of 28 from three. HOU turned it over 16 times to LAC's 11, and LAC turned those into 11 steals. Durant led with 26 (8 of 22, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Sengun added 22, Thompson 16. The hinge was Q3, 27-20: HOU came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 6, and the lead reached 15. HOU trailed 51-52 at the half and won the second half 51-43. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
2/11 vs LAC 102-105 — HOU notes
HOU lost 102-105. HOU shot 46% (38 of 82) to LAC's 47%, 12 of 36 from three, and got to the line 18 times to LAC's 26. HOU turned it over 21 times to LAC's 9, and LAC turned those into 13 steals. The glass went 45-32 for them. Durant led with 21 (7 of 15, 3 of 9 from three); Sheppard added 17, Smith Jr. 16. Q1 was theirs, 29-22, but the other 3 periods went 83-73 against them. They led by as many as 15. Smith Jr.'s -8 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/19 @ CHA 105-101 — HOU notes
HOU won 105-101. HOU shot 49% (42 of 85) to CHA's 43%, 9 of 32 from three. HOU turned it over 11 times to CHA's 16. Durant led with 35 (14 of 20, 2 of 4 from three); Smith Jr. added 15, Sengun 13. The hinge was Q2, 29-19: HOU came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 1.
2/21 @ NYK 106-108 — HOU notes
HOU lost 106-108. HOU shot 48% (38 of 80) to NYK's 49%, 12 of 31 from three, and went to the line 23 times to NYK's 16 — 18 points from the stripe to their 14. HOU turned it over 19 times to NYK's 11, and NYK turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 44-29 for them. Durant led with 30 (10 of 26, 4 of 10 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Smith Jr. added 21, Sengun 16. Q3 was theirs, 37-22, but the other 3 periods went 86-69 against them. They led by as many as 18.
2/23 vs UTA 125-105 — HOU notes
HOU won 125-105. HOU shot 57% (49 of 86) to UTA's 37%, 18 of 40 from three, and got to the line 11 times to UTA's 30. HOU turned it over 26 times to UTA's 11, and UTA turned those into 17 steals. The glass went 53-36 for them. Smith Jr. led with 31 (12 of 17, 6 of 11 from three); Thompson added 20, Durant 18. The hinge was Q1, 38-22: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 33. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
2/25 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 103, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Smith Jr. at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 125, shooting 43 percent and 25 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 16 and Monk at 14 a game. Without LaVine (6 straight), Hunter (6 straight), Cardwell (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 103 a night to Sacramento's 125 and the arc, Houston at 39 percent from three to Sacramento's 25. Call it Houston 118, Sacramento 106, Houston by 12.
2/26 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bane at 28 and Banchero at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Fra. Wagner (4 straight), Suggs (3 straight), Bitadze (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 103, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Smith Jr. at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Orlando minus-6 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 18 times a game to Orlando's 11. Call it Orlando 112, Houston 111, Houston keeping it close.
2/28 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Herro at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Jović (3 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 104, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Smith Jr. at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 104 a night to Miami's 116 and the line, where Miami takes 27 free throws a game to Houston's 17. Call it Miami 116, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
3/02 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Riley at 15 and Hardy at 14 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Sarr (7 straight), Whitmore (38 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Smith Jr. at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and Washington minus-8 and the defense, Houston allowing 107 a night to Washington's 125. Call it Houston 119, Washington 111.
2/09 @ MIA 115-111 — UTA notes
UTA won 115-111. UTA shot 42% (39 of 92) to MIA's 42%, 10 of 36 from three, and got to the line 31 times to MIA's 44. The glass went 58-43 for them. Jackson Jr. led with 22 (7 of 19, 2 of 7 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Markkanen added 17, Bailey 16. The hinge was Q2, 35-20: UTA came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 9. Jackson Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
2/11 vs SAC 121-93 — UTA notes
UTA won 121-93. UTA shot 55% (47 of 86) to SAC's 34%, 15 of 37 from three, and got to the line 13 times to SAC's 29. UTA turned it over 17 times to SAC's 12, and SAC turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 52-42 for them. Jackson Jr. led with 23 (8 of 13, 1 of 3 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Sensabaugh added 19, Markkanen 19. The hinge was Q1, 39-20: from level to 19 ahead, and the lead reached 36. Jackson Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
2/12 vs POR 119-135 — UTA notes
UTA lost 119-135. UTA shot 48% (42 of 87) to POR's 51%, 14 of 38 from three. The glass went 38-52 against them. Sensabaugh led with 28 (8 of 19, 5 of 11 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Collier added 15, Bailey 15. Q1 was theirs, 31-28, but the other 3 periods went 107-88 against them. Sensabaugh's -27 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/20 @ MEM 114-123 — UTA notes
UTA lost 114-123. UTA shot 49% (46 of 93) to MEM's 49%, 13 of 34 from three, and got to the line 16 times to MEM's 33. UTA turned it over 24 times to MEM's 17, and MEM turned those into 15 steals. Collier led with 24 (9 of 16, 2 of 5 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Bailey added 20, Filipowski 20. Q2 was theirs, 35-27, but the other 3 periods went 96-79 against them. They led by as many as 14. Hinson's -14 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 @ HOU 105-125 — UTA notes
UTA lost 105-125. UTA took 12 more shots (98 to 86), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 37% to HOU's 57%, 8 of 44 from three, and went to the line 30 times to HOU's 11 — 25 points from the stripe to their 9. UTA turned it over 11 times to HOU's 26. The glass went 36-53 against them. Markkanen led with 29 (10 of 23, 1 of 10 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Sensabaugh added 26, Collier 17. Q4 was theirs, 30-25, the deficit cut from 25 to 20, but the other 3 periods went 100-75 against them. Collier's -30 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/26 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Sensabaugh at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without George (5 straight), Kessler (53 straight). 2 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Bey at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Murphy III (3 straight), Missi (4 straight), Peavy (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been minus-0 a night and New Orleans minus-5. Call it Utah 119, New Orleans 118, New Orleans keeping it close.
2/28 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 20 and Collier at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without George (6 straight), Kessler (54 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Bey at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Murphy III (4 straight), Missi (5 straight), Peavy (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Utah 120, New Orleans 119, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/02 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 19 and Collier at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Kessler (55 straight), Bamba (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Watson (9 straight), Gordon (15 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and Utah minus-10 and the defense, Denver allowing 112 a night to Utah's 125. Call it Denver 121, Utah 116.
3/04 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Maxey at 31 and Edgecombe at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without George (14 straight), Embiid (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 124, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 26 free throws a game; Collier at 17 and Bailey at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Kessler (56 straight), Bamba (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 37 percent from three to Utah's 30 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 117 a night to Utah's 124. Call it Philadelphia 121, Utah 116.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
DF D. Finney-Smith
JG J. Green
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
TE T. Eason
UTAAB A. Bailey
BS B. Sensabaugh
CW C. Williams
EH E. Harkless
IC I. Collier
JK J. Konchar
KF K. Filipowski
KL K. Love
LM L. Markkanen
SM S. Mykhailiuk
VW V. Williams Jr.
HOU/UTA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Smith scores 31 points and Thompson adds 20 as Rockets beat the Jazz 125-105
HOUSTON -- — Jabari Smith Jr. had 31 points and nine rebounds and Amen Thompson scored 20 points as the Houston Rockets beat the Utah Jazz 125-105 on Monday night.
Smith hit his first five shots and matched a career-high with 14 points in the first quarter. He converted 12 of 17 shots overall and made six 3-pointers.
Thompson shot 8 for 9 from the field and finished with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Kevin Durant scored 18 points and added a season-high 12 assists. Reed Sheppard scored 15 points off the bench.
With the win, the Rockets (35-21) into third place in the Western Conference, behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio.
Despite nine turnovers, Houston used runs of 11-2 and 10-3 to help build a 38-22 lead after a quarter. The Rockets shot 67% from the field and hit eight shots from long distance.
The Jazz opened the second quarter on a 13-2 run before Houston responded with an 18-2 outburst over the next six minutes and took a 68-47 lead into halftime.
Houston pushed its lead to as many as 33 points in the second half and never led by fewer than 16.
The Rockets scored 29 fast-break points, one off their season-high, but committed a season-high 27 turnovers, leading to 34 points by the Jazz.
Lauri Markkanen’s 29 points led the Jazz (18-40), who have lost three in a row. Brice Sensabaugh scored 26 points off the bench on 10-for-15 shooting.
Jazz forward Vince Williams Jr . had to be helped to the locker room after suffering a left knee injury in the second quarter and did not return. Jazz coach Will Hardy said Williams will get an MRI.
Up next Jazz: Host New Orleans Pelicans for games on Thursday and Saturday.