The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz 2017-18 Week 20 Outlook, Predictions

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 24: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz high fives teammates before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 24, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 24: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz high fives teammates before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 24, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 23: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets celebrates with the crowd after Chris Paul #3 makes a shot in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center on February 23, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 23: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets celebrates with the crowd after Chris Paul #3 makes a shot in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center on February 23, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

2/26 Utah vs. Houston

7:00 pm MT – AT&T SportsNet/League Pass

Opponent record: 45-13

Season series: Rockets lead 3-0

The Jazz start out the week on Monday against the hottest team in the NBA in the Houston Rockets, who have moved into the top seed in the West and currently hold an 11-game winning streak of their own. Houston has had their way with the Jazz all season long as they hold a 3-0 regular season series lead heading into the final matchup between the two squads.

The Rockets do play this evening in Denver, meaning they’ll be coming into Salt Lake on the second night of a back-to-back whereas the Jazz should be fresh, so hopefully this will give Utah a slight edge against a daunting Rockets team. Last season, the Jazz actually matched up quite well against Houston, so Quin Snyder could very well have a good game plan in store that would help give the Jazz a boost.

Unfortunately that was before they added the likes of Chris Paul, who’s been sensational in Houston, so toppling them will be much easier said than done. Houston also now has another player that’s all too familiar to Jazz fans in Joe Johnson who was bought out by the Sacramento Kings following the trade to bring Jae Crowder to Utah. It will be weird seeing him in an opposing team’s uniform, but I imagine he’ll get a nice ovation from Jazz fans.

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/967413834083270657

Of course, when going up against the Rockets, the player that garners the most attention is none other than James Harden, who many have pinned as the frontrunner to win the NBA MVP award this season. Harden has been nothing short of sensational this year as he’s averaging 31.3 points per game as well as five rebounds and nine assists. He’s scoring with ease and putting up triple-doubles like they’re nothing and has been the catalyst behind his team’s run to the number one seed.

And it seems the Jazz always struggle to contain him. Earlier in the season, he put up an incredible 56 points against Utah at an outrageous clip of 19-of-25 (76 percent) from the field and 7-of-8 (87.5 percent) from deep. When he catches fire like that, there’s essentially no stopping him. But if Utah is to come out on top on Monday, they’ll need to find a way to render him as inefficient as possible.

I like the fact that Houston is coming on the second night of a back-to-back as the Jazz will need all the help they can get. During Utah’s previous winning streak, they did manage to blowout the Golden State Warriors by 30 points, so if that version of this Jazz team shows up, they may very well be able to surprise the Rockets as well and pull off an extraordinary game.

Unfortunately, based on what we’ve seen from Utah’s two games back from the break, I don’t really see that happening. I have a hunch that the Jazz will be unable to keep up with the red hot Rockets who will come into Salt Lake looking to sweep the season series against a team that could potentially be their first-round opponent in the playoffs.

My Prediction: Rockets Win

Final Score: Houston 118, Utah 107

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