by Alma Bean
Feature Image: Photo by Jeffery D. Allred of Deseret News.
The Utah Jazz (27-29) plays their first game after the NBA Trade deadline as they cross the Canadian border to face the Toronto Raptors (26-30).
What to Look For
This will be the second and final time this season these two teams will meet without O.G. Anunoby. This didn’t seem to be a problem for Toronto as they relied on the shooting from Fred VanVleet as Utah got the win by the skin of their teeth. Both teams are coming into this game win three-game streaks with Toronto on a winning streak and Utah on a losing streak. With Utah having to mix up all their lineups going forward, it’s a little difficult for teams to gauge what Utah head coach Will Hardy will be able to cook up. I expect to see more usage out of Ochai Agbaji as the season gets closer to reaching an end.
Key of the Game
Ball control. Even without Anunoby, Toronto was able to get 11 steals against Utah in their previous meeting. With Utah handing the reigns of starting point guard over to Collin Sexton, Utah will see the game move progressively faster which may result in more turnovers. Utah committed 16 turnovers in their previous meeting, but in Utah’s previous game only committed eight.
Injury Report
Toronto- O.G. Anunoby: Out (wrist), Otto Porter Jr.: Out (foot)
Utah- Jordan Clarkson: Out (non-COVID illness), Damian Jones: Out (trade pending), Johnny Juzang: Out (G League), Micah Potter: Out (elbow), Juan Tuscano-Anderson: Out (trade pending), Russell Westbrook: Out (trade pending)
Where to Watch
Tip-ff between Toronto and Utah will be at 5:30 p.m. MT on AT&T SportsNet.