Luka Samanic scored his highest points this season, helping the Utah Jazz break a 13-game losing streak with a 124-121 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.
Keyonte George also contributed with 20 points for the Jazz, who finished with a 21-20 record at home this season. Brice Sensabaugh added 17 points, and Talen Horton-Tucker had 16. Kenneth Lofton Jr. scored 14 points, his season’s best, and grabbed nine rebounds.
Despite Houston making 21 3-pointers and outscoring Utah in second-chance and fast-break points, the Jazz showed resilience and managed to secure their first win since mid-March, putting an end to their third-longest losing streak in franchise history.
Jazz coach Will Hardy praised the team’s desperate play throughout most of the game, especially in the second half, highlighting it as the standard they aim to maintain consistently.
Fred VanVleet had a standout performance for the Rockets, scoring a season-high 42 points and sinking nine 3-pointers. However, Houston faced their sixth loss in seven games. VanVleet’s 3-pointers were impressive, but he struggled with his two-point shots, making only 3 of 17.
Cam Whitmore contributed 18 points, including four 3-pointers, while Amen Thompson added 15 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals. VanVleet expressed disappointment and frustration at missing out on an opportunity for a win.
At halftime, the Jazz, trailing by three, began the third quarter with a four-point burst. Despite VanVleet and Aaron Holiday’s efforts for the Rockets, the Jazz responded with a late third-quarter 14-3 run, taking a 98-92 lead with Sensabaugh’s corner 3-pointer.
Although VanVleet tied the game with two free throws, the Jazz managed to pull ahead for good. Darius Beazley and George’s layups fueled a 6-0 run, sealing Utah’s victory with a 124-118 lead. George highlighted the team’s exceptional effort, communication, and execution, attributing their success to doing everything correctly.
In the first quarter, Houston had a strong start, shooting 62% from beyond the arc, with VanVleet leading the charge. However, Utah bounced back in the second quarter with a 13-0 run, erasing the deficit and taking the lead.
