Preview: The 39-41 Rockets remain in the chase for the West's final playoff spot but trail Utah by a game with two games left. They had lost seven of their past 10 games before beating L.A. in Kobe Bryant's final game in Houston. … The Rockets have won 10 of the past 11 meetings — including the past six — between the two teams.
Player to watch: Rockets star James Harden scored 40 points on Sunday. He is averaging 28.7 points, 7.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds and is aimed at becoming the sixth player in NBA history to average at least 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds. The others: John Havlicek, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook. And he's about to join Havlicek, James and Robertson as the only ones to do it more than once.
Injuries: Wolves F Kevin Garnett (sore knee) and C Nikola Pekovic (sore ankle) have not played since January and are listed as out. Rockets Sam Dekker (back) is out.
JERRY ZGODA
