Rockets' Defense Falters in 124-115 Loss to Jazz

The Houston Rockets have struggled since the All-Star break, recently losing to the Utah Jazz 124-115 after leading early in the fourth quarter. This loss highlighted ongoing defensive issues, as the Rockets allowed 37 points in the final 12 minutes and have dropped from fourth to fifth in the Western Conference standings. Despite maintaining a top-four defensive ranking for the season, their performance has slipped to 19th over the last ten games, exacerbated by injuries to key players like Fred VanVleet and Tari Eason. Additionally, the Rockets' shooting woes at the free-throw line have become a critical concern, compounding their struggles in close games. Head coach Ime Udoka expressed disappointment over the team's lack of competitiveness and effort on defense, while the Rockets aim to regain their form with 25 games left in the regular season. Consistency on both ends of the court will be essential if the Rockets hope to secure a better playoff position and avoid falling to the play-in tournament.