If the Utah Jazz are to make a run up the standings and avoid a potential matchup with the two-time defending Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors in the second round of the playoffs, the time to strike is now. Utah (40-24) will not only seek to claim the season series against the Rockets (44-20) in Houston on Wednesday night at Toyota Center, the Jazz will aim to cut the Rockets' lead for the third seed in the West to three games with 17 to play. The Rockets followed their 120-101 loss at Utah on Nov. 29 by winning 20 of 22 games, a surge responsible for their current standing.