The Hive Sports

Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers Pregame Analysis

by Alma Bean Feature Image by Rick Bowmer of AP Photo The Utah Jazz (8-16) takes a one-game road trip to face the Portland Trail Blazers (6-16) for the final time this season. What to Look For Now going into their fourth matchup of the season, Utah is looking to finish the series with a…

Alma Bean

December 14, 2023

2–3 minutes

Anfernee Simons, Deandre Ayton, Ish Wainwright, Jerami Grant, John Collins, Johnny Juzang, Jordan Clarkson, Josh Christopher, Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, Luka Samanic, Malcolm Brogdan, NBA, Portland Trail Blazers, Robert Williams III, Shaedon Sharpe, Taylor Hendricks, Utah Jazz, Walker Kessler

by Alma Bean

Feature Image by Rick Bowmer of AP Photo

The Utah Jazz (8-16) takes a one-game road trip to face the Portland Trail Blazers (6-16) for the final time this season.

What to Look For

Now going into their fourth matchup of the season, Utah is looking to finish the series with a 3-1 record. Utah won both games at home but suffered at 16-point loss on the road against Portland. With this game coming on the second night of a back-to-back, we might end up seeing a tired Utah team. In their three previous matchups, Utah is shooting 47.4 percent from the field while shooting a less than stellar 27.8 percent from the perimeter.

Utah will need to keep an eye on Shaedon Sharpe. On the season he is averaging 18.8/5.6/3.6 with shooting splits of 42.6/36.5/82.3. Over the last five games Sharpe has been averaging 26.2 PPG and shooting 42.7 percent from the field. This will also be the first time that Utah will be seeing Anfernee Simons this season who averaged 28/4.7/6.7 with shooting splits of 45.8/39.4/89.5 last season against Utah.

What Utah fans can ease into is that Portland is currently on a four-game losing streak and is 2-6 at home this season. On the other hand, Utah is 1-3 since their previous matchup and is 1-11 on the road this season. Expect a battle to the finish between these two teams.

Key of the Game

Front court emphasis. Given the injury report, both teams will be without their main scorers in the front court but will provide opportunities for their bench players that will decide the tides in this game. with the improvements that Taylor Hendricks and Walker Kessler have shown with each other on the defensive end, Portland will have their hands full driving into the paint.

Injury Report

Portland – Deandre Ayton (knee) Questionable, Malcolm Brogdan (knee) Questionable, Jerami Grant (concussion) Out, Ish Wainwright (knee) Out, Robert Williams III (knee) Out

Utah – Josh Christopher (G League) Out, Jordan Clarkson (hamstring) Out, John Collins (illness) Out, Keyonte George (foot) Out, Johnny Juzang (G League) Out, Lauri Markkanen (hamstring) Questionable, Luka Samanic (illness) Out, Brice Sensabaugh (G League) Out

Where to Watch

Tip-off will be at 8:00 p.m. MST on KJZZ and Jazz+.

Author

Written by

Alma Bean

I am currently a student at the University of Utah working toward my second bachelor’s degree, this time in communication with an emphasis in journalism. I currently have a bachelor’s degree in music from Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida. As I pursue a degree in communication, I dream to bring this emphasis of journalism to the world of sports. When I’m not writing, I allow my inner basketball fan to come out as I watch previous games and highlights across the NBA to become a walking, talking sports almanac.

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