Rockets Rout Jazz in 125-105 Victory

Jabari Smith Jr. scores 31 points as Houston cruises to double-digit win

Feb. 24, 2026 at 4:53am

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The Houston Rockets dominated the Utah Jazz from start to finish, cruising to a 125-105 victory at home. Rookie sensation Jabari Smith Jr. led the way with 31 points on 12-of-17 shooting, while Amen Thompson added 20 points on a perfect 8-of-8 from the field. The win lifts the Rockets to 35-21 on the season, maintaining their hold on the fourth seed in the Western Conference.

Why it matters

The Rockets' convincing win over the Jazz showcases the team's continued improvement and ability to win decisively against a Western Conference opponent. This performance could be a sign of Houston emerging as a legitimate playoff contender in the crowded West.

The details

The Rockets jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by double digits for the entire second half. Jabari Smith Jr. had a dominant scoring night, while rookie Amen Thompson was perfect from the field. The Jazz were led by Lauri Markkanen's 29 points and Brice Sensabaugh's 26 points off the bench, but it wasn't enough to keep pace with the surging Rockets.

  • The game was played on February 23, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

The players

Jabari Smith Jr.

The Rockets' rookie sensation who scored a game-high 31 points on 12-of-17 shooting.

Amen Thompson

The Rockets' rookie guard who scored 20 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting performance.

Lauri Markkanen

The Jazz's leading scorer with 29 points.

Brice Sensabaugh

The Jazz's reserve who scored 26 points off the bench.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

The Rockets' dominant performance over the Jazz showcases their continued growth and emergence as a potential playoff contender in the Western Conference. With Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson leading the way, Houston appears to be building a strong young core that could make noise in the postseason.