Smith scores 31 points and Thompson adds 20 as Rockets beat the Jazz 125-105

By BY ADAM SPOLANE

HOUSTON (AP) Jabari Smith Jr. had 31 points and nine rebounds and Amen Thompson scored 20 points as the Houston Rockets beat the Utah Jazz 125-105 on Monday night.

Smith hit his first five shots and matched a career-high with 14 points in the first quarter. He converted 12 of 17 shots overall and made six 3-pointers.

Thompson shot 8 for 9 from the field and finished with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Kevin Durant scored 18 points and added a season-high 12 assists. Reed Sheppard scored 15 points off the bench.

With the win, the Rockets (35-21) into third place in the Western Conference, behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio.

Despite nine turnovers, Houston used runs of 11-2 and 10-3 to help build a 38-22 lead after a quarter. The Rockets shot 67% from the field and hit eight shots from long distance.

The Jazz opened the second quarter on a 13-2 run before Houston responded with an 18-2 outburst over the next six minutes and took a 68-47 lead into halftime.

Houston pushed its lead to as many as 33 points in the second half and never led by fewer than 16.

The Rockets scored 29 fast-break points, one off their season-high, but committed a season-high 27 turnovers, leading to 34 points by the Jazz.

Lauri Markkanen’s 29 points led the Jazz (18-40), who have lost three in a row. Brice Sensabaugh scored 26 points off the bench on 10-for-15 shooting.

Jazz forward Vince Williams Jr. had to be helped to the locker room after suffering a left knee injury in the second quarter and did not return.

Jazz: Host New Orleans Pelicans for games on Thursday and Saturday.

Rockets: Host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

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