Game ID: 22500316
Houston Rockets @ Utah Jazz
Monday, December 1, 2025 at 9:00 PM ET
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
UTA 31 37 30 35 133HOU 32 25 32 36 125
HOU @ UTA ScoutingHOU @ 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.
UTA availability going into 11/23 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 10 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 15 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Harkless back 11/18 after 2, 3 min since (13% of 21)
BACK Anderson back 11/18 after 4, 20 min since (100% of 20)
BACK Clayton Jr. back 11/21 after 3, 12 min since (67% of 18)
BACK Hendricks back 11/21 after 5, 8 min since (54% of 15)
UTA availability going into 11/24 · back-to-backOUT Kessler missed 11 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 2 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Anderson missed 2 since 11/21, returns tonight: 24 min (117% of 20)
OUT Tshiebwe missed 16 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Clayton Jr. back 11/21 after 3, 12 min since (67% of 18)
BACK Hendricks back 11/21 after 5, 4 min since (29% of 15)
UTA availability going into 11/28 · 3 days' restOUT Kessler missed 12 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 3 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 17 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Anderson back 11/18 after 4, 22 min since (108% of 20)
BACK Clayton Jr. back 11/21 after 3, 14 min since (81% of 18)
BACK Hendricks back 11/21 after 5, 4 min since (29% of 15)
UTA availability going into 11/30 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 13 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 2 since 11/24, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 4 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 18 since 10/22, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 2 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK Anderson back 11/18 after 4, 22 min since (108% of 20)
BACK Clayton Jr. back 11/21 after 3, 13 min since (70% of 18)
UTA availability going into 12/01 · back-to-backOUT Kessler missed 14 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 3 since 11/24, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 5 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 19 since 10/22, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 3 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK Anderson back 11/24 after 2, 24 min since (120% of 20)
BACK Clayton Jr. back 11/21 after 3, 14 min since (77% of 18)
UTA availability going into 12/04 · 2 days' restOUT Kessler missed 15 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 4 since 11/24, returns tonight: 8 min (34% of 24)
OUT Harkless missed 6 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 20 since 10/22, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 4 since 11/24, returns tonight: 7 min (47% of 15)
BACK Anderson back 11/24 after 2, 24 min since (120% of 20)
UTA availability going into 12/05 · back-to-backOUT Kessler missed 16 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 7 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 21 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Williams back 12/04 after 4, 8 min since (34% of 24)
BACK Anderson back 11/24 after 2, 22 min since (108% of 20)
BACK Hendricks back 12/04 after 4, 7 min since (47% of 15)
UTA availability going into 12/07 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 17 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 8 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 22 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Williams back 12/04 after 4, 8 min since (34% of 24)
BACK Hendricks back 12/04 after 4, 7 min since (47% of 15)
UTA availability going into 12/12 · 4 days' restOUT Kessler missed 18 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 9 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 23 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Williams back 12/04 after 4, 8 min since (34% of 24)
BACK Hendricks back 12/04 after 4, 16 min since (106% of 15)
NEW Filipowski 23 to 31 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 11/21 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 2 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 13 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/12 after 2, 13 min since (95% of 14)
HOU availability going into 11/24 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 3 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 14 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/12 after 2, 13 min since (96% of 14)
HOU availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 4 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 15 since 10/21, out tonight
HOU availability going into 11/30 · 3 days' restOUT Durant missed 2 since 11/24, returns tonight: 30 min (82% of 36)
OUT Eason missed 5 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 16 since 10/21, out tonight
NEW Holiday 14 to 21 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/01 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 6 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 17 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 30 min since (82% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 22 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 7 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 18 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 35 min since (96% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 8 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 19 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 34 min since (93% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/06 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 9 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 20 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 34 min since (92% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/11 · 4 days' restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 12/05, returns tonight: 36 min (107% of 34)
OUT Eason missed 10 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 21 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 33 min since (91% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
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 113 a night and allowing 127, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; George at 21 and Markkanen at 20 a game. Without Kessler (14 straight), Williams (3 straight), Harkless (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 102, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and Durant at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Eason (6 straight), Finney-Smith (17 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 102 a night to Utah's 127 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Utah minus-0. Call it Houston 120, Utah 112.
11/23 vs LAL 106-108 — UTA notes
UTA lost 106-108. UTA took 8 more shots (94 to 86), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to LAL's 44%, 13 of 40 from three, and got to the line 18 times to LAL's 27. George led with 27 (10 of 23, 4 of 10 from three); Markkanen added 20, Mykhailiuk 12. Q3 was theirs, 26-22, the deficit cut from 7 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 86-80 against them. Filipowski's -27 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/24 @ GSW 117-134 — UTA notes
UTA lost 117-134. UTA shot 47% (47 of 99) to GSW's 49%, 11 of 36 from three. George led with 28 (10 of 17, 4 of 8 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Bailey added 21, Markkanen 17. Q1 was theirs, 35-26, but the other 3 periods went 108-82 against them. They led by as many as 11. Mykhailiuk's -22 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/28 vs SAC 128-119 — UTA notes
UTA won 128-119. UTA shot 48% (42 of 87) to SAC's 45%, 13 of 40 from three, and went to the line 40 times to SAC's 32 — 31 points from the stripe to their 23. George led with 31 (10 of 19, 4 of 9 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Markkanen added 28, Sensabaugh 20. The hinge was Q2, 32-24: a lead of 3 became 11, and the lead reached 17.
11/30 vs HOU 101-129 — UTA notes
UTA lost 101-129. UTA shot 44% (39 of 88) to HOU's 53%, 9 of 32 from three, and got to the line 15 times to HOU's 33. The glass went 33-50 against them. Bailey led with 19 (8 of 12, 3 of 5 from three); Markkanen added 18, Nurkić 14. Q4 was theirs, 33-31, the deficit cut from 30 to 28, but the other 3 periods went 98-68 against them. George's -27 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/01 vs HOU 133-125 — UTA notes
UTA won 133-125. UTA shot 50% (45 of 90) to HOU's 44%, 14 of 35 from three. Markkanen led with 29 (9 of 17, 2 of 3 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); George added 28, Nurkić 18. The hinge was Q2, 37-25: UTA came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 21. Clayton Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
12/04 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 110, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 28 and Clowney at 18 a game. Without Mann (2 straight), Thomas (13 straight), Traore (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; George at 23 and Markkanen at 22 a game. Without Kessler (15 straight), Williams (4 straight), Harkless (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 110 a night to Utah's 123. Call it Brooklyn 117, Utah 116, Utah keeping it close.
12/05 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Anunoby (9 straight), Shamet (6 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and George at 23 a game. Without Kessler (16 straight), Harkless (7 straight), Tshiebwe (21 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 106 a night to Utah's 123 and the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and Utah minus-3. Call it New York 124, Utah 113, New York by 11.
12/07 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 31 free throws a game; Markkanen at 25 and George at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Kessler (17 straight), Harkless (8 straight), Tshiebwe (22 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 112, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 30 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 35 and Holmgren at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Dort (2 straight), Hartenstein (4 straight), Caruso (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 112 a night to Utah's 126 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 13 times a game to OKC's 10. Call it OKC 123, Utah 116.
12/12 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Wells at 16 and Edey at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Morant (10 straight), Jackson (7 straight), Small (14 straight). 4 days' rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 128, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and George at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Kessler (18 straight), Harkless (9 straight), Tshiebwe (23 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-12 a night and Utah minus-7 and the defense, Memphis allowing 107 a night to Utah's 128. Call it Memphis 122, Utah 112, Memphis by 10.
11/21 vs DEN 109-112 — HOU notes
HOU lost 109-112. HOU took 17 more shots (93 to 76), fed by 18 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to DEN's 53%, 14 of 36 from three, and got to the line 20 times to DEN's 27. Sheppard led with 27 (9 of 13, 5 of 8 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Thompson added 22, Smith Jr. 21. Q2 was theirs, 37-21, turning a 13-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 91-72 against them. Sengun's -16 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/24 @ PHX 114-92 — HOU notes
HOU won 114-92. HOU shot 49% (43 of 88) to PHX's 41%, 13 of 31 from three. HOU turned it over 14 times to PHX's 21. Thompson led with 28 (10 of 16, 7 of 7 at the line); Holiday added 22, Sengun 18. The hinge was Q4, 30-17: a lead of 9 became 22. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
11/26 @ GSW 104-100 — HOU notes
HOU won 104-100. HOU shot 39% (39 of 99) to GSW's 43%, 11 of 39 from three. HOU turned it over 10 times to GSW's 16. Sheppard led with 31 (12 of 25, 4 of 12 from three); Sengun added 16, Smith Jr. 15. The hinge was Q3, 27-17: the deficit went from 12 to 2. HOU trailed 47-59 at the half and won the second half 57-41. Holiday was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
11/30 @ UTA 129-101 — HOU notes
HOU won 129-101. HOU shot 53% (46 of 87) to UTA's 44%, 11 of 31 from three, and went to the line 33 times to UTA's 15 — 26 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 50-33 for them. Sengun led with 27 (10 of 15, 7 of 9 at the line); Durant added 25, Smith Jr. 15. The hinge was Q3, 31-20: a lead of 19 became 30, and the lead reached 37. Sheppard was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
12/01 @ UTA 125-133 — HOU notes
HOU lost 125-133. HOU shot 44% (41 of 93) to UTA's 50%, 10 of 34 from three. Durant led with 32 (10 of 25, 2 of 7 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Sengun added 31, Thompson 23. Q3 was theirs, 32-30, the deficit cut from 11 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 103-93 against them. Okogie's -15 in 9 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/03 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 116 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 23 and Sengun at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Eason (7 straight), Finney-Smith (18 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 20 and Murray at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Sabonis (7 straight), Plowden (9 straight), Schröder (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-5 a night and Sacramento minus-7 and the defense, Houston allowing 108 a night to Sacramento's 118. Call it Houston 121, Sacramento 110, Houston by 11.
12/05 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 104, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Sengun at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Eason (8 straight), Finney-Smith (19 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brooks at 24 and Gillespie at 20 a game. Without Green (12 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Phoenix plus-1 and the defense, Houston allowing 104 a night to Phoenix's 115. Call it Houston 119, Phoenix 109, Houston by 10.
12/06 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Flagg at 22 and Marshall at 16 a game. Without Washington (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Sengun at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Eason (9 straight), Finney-Smith (20 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and Dallas minus-1 and the defense, Houston allowing 105 a night to Dallas's 120. Call it Houston 118, Dallas 113.
12/11 vs LAC — 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 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 29 and Durant at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Sengun (2 straight), Eason (10 straight), Finney-Smith (21 straight). 4 days' rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 26 and Harden at 24 a game. Without Jones Jr. (11 straight), Miller (3 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and the Clippers plus-3 and the arc, Houston at 36 percent from three to the Clippers' 31. Call it Houston 119, the Clippers 109, Houston by 10.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
UTAAB A. Bailey
BS B. Sensabaugh
IC I. Collier
JN J. Nurkić
KF K. Filipowski
KG K. George
KL K. Love
LM L. Markkanen
NU Nurkic
SM S. Mykhailiuk
WC W. Clayton Jr.
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
UTA/HOU 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
Markkanen scores 29 and George adds 28 in bounce-back game as Jazz outlast Rockets 133-125
SALT LAKE CITY -- — Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points and Keyonte George added 28 as the Utah Jazz outlasted the Houston Rockets 133-125 on Monday night.
Kevin Durant , off target much of the game, scored 16 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter for Houston. Alperin Sengun had 31 points and tied a career high with 14 assists. Amen Thompson added 23 points for the Rockets (13-5), who had won five straight on the road.
Sengun’s contested layup pulled the Rockets to 126-123 with 52.7 seconds remaining, but George hit 5 of 6 free throws and added a steal down the stretch to seal the win.
The teams played Sunday night in Utah and the Rockets rolled to a 129-101 victory. This one was quite the contrast as the Jazz led almost all game.
George, who went scoreless with eight turnovers Sunday, shot 8 for 14 from the field and handed out eight assists.
Jusuf Nurkic had a season-high 18 points and nine rebounds before fouling out, and Ace Bailey added 13 points as Utah (6-13) improved to 6-6 at home.
The Jazz built a 98-77 lead after Nurkic's hook shot with 1:37 left in the third quarter. In the last 97 seconds of the period, that advantage dwindled to 98-89 due to a lightning 12-0 run that included three steals.
The Rockets have been one of the best defensive teams in the NBA — holding opponents to 97.7 points per game during their three-game win streak — but were a step slow in their rotations against the Jazz, who often made the extra pass to a wide-open shooter.
Steven Adams rested and the Rockets missed his presence in the middle. Utah had 24 second-chance points.
In a 36-second span of the fourth quarter, the Rockets committed five fouls without gaining possession and the Jazz were suddenly in the penalty. That came in handy as George clinched the game with free throws.
Up next Rockets: Host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.