Jabari Smith Jr. dropped 31 points and nine rebounds for the Houston Rockets to dominate 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, as he converted 12 of 17 shots and made six three-pointers.
Amen Thompson contributed 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while shooting 8 for 9 from the field. Kevin Durant scored 18 and a season-high 12 assists, and Reed Sheppard with 15 points off the bench.
Rockets are now in third place in the Western Conference behind the Thunder and the Spurs with a 35-21 win-loss record.
Houston used runs of 11-2 and 10-3 to build a 38-22 lead, and shot 67% from the field despite nine turnovers.
Utah opened the second quarter on a 13-2 run before the Rockets responded with an 18-2 outburst over the next six minutes and took a 68-47 lead into halftime.
Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 29 points, and Brice Sensabaugh added 26 off the bench, struggling to find their groove for three games in a row.
Meanwhile, 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.
The Rockets pushed their lead to as many as 33 points in the second half and never led by fewer than 16.
Houston scored 29 fast-break points, one off its season high, but committed 27 turnovers, leading to 34 points.
The Jazz will host the Pelicans on Thursday and Saturday, while the Rockets host the Kings on Wednesday.
