PREVIEW: The Utah Jazz visit the Houston Rockets in Western Conference action , setting up a matchup with considerable intrigue despite the apparent talent disparity. Houston already has a loss to these Jazz, who have played Houston tougher than they have against anyone else over the past two years , suggesting Utah will arrive with confidence despite their overall struggles. The Rockets enter the game ranked 29th in tempo and 29th in passing efficiency, creating a deliberate, isolation-heavy offensive approach that contrasts sharply with Utah's quicker style. However, the Jazz rank 30th in transition efficiency and struggle defensively against shots attacking the rim, while allowing the league's highest three-point attempt rate at 45.6 percent , vulnerabilities that could expose them against a Houston team built for low-efficiency shooting volumes. Houston boasts elite offensive rebounding ranked first in the league at 32.2 percent, along with high-frequency midrange and post-up shot attempts , forming an inside-out attack designed to punish teams in the paint. The Rockets blew an 18-point fourth-quarter lead against New York on Saturday and recorded only 15 points in the final frame of their 108-106 loss, a troubling pattern that has defined their season. The Jazz were without leading scorers Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George in their previous outing, though both are probable or questionable for this matchup . If those stars return to the lineup, Utah's balanced attack could present problems for a Houston defense that must contend with their opponents' efficient perimeter shooting and aggressive free throw hunting.