The Hive Sports

by Alma Bean

Feature Image by Trent Nelson of The Salt Lake Tribune

The Utah Jazz (9-17) takes on the Brooklyn Nets (13-12) in Utah’s quick return home.

What to Look For

This game is looking like a battle of redemption for Brooklyn and Utah. Brooklyn is coming into Salt Lake City losing three of their last four games with all four teams looking to be heavy playoff contenders. Utah is coming home losing four of their last six games with an impressive win on December 13 against the New York Knicks giving them their first road loss of the season. This may be a game that Utah can sneak away with giving Brooklyn’s away record (5-7) but that will be dependent on Brooklyn’s backcourt. Though Mikal Bridges will be on the floor, Utah’s lack of prominent guards may open up the floor for Spencer Dinwiddie and Cam Thomas. Between Thomas leading Brooklyn in scoring with 23.9 PPG while shooting 45 percent from the field and Dinwiddie averaging 24/4/8.3 in his last three matchups against Utah, their presence will be hard to ignore.

Utah’s front court will need to compensate for Brooklyn’s back court getting guys like Lauri Markkanen and Kelly Olynyk in a rhythm early will keep Utah within range. Now with Utah’s number one scorer back on the floor and arguable Utah’s best facilitator feeling confident, they can look to get over their 111.7 PPG average that is near the bottom of the league compared to Brooklyn who is at 116.4 PPG. Along with getting over their own average for points per game, Utah will definitely be looking to get over their point differential which is bottom-five in the league at -8.2.

Key of the Game

Get Simone Fontecchio and Collin Sexton hot early. Fontecchio is starting to look more like his FIBA self this season as he is shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from the perimeter. Even as a starter, Fontecchio has been shooting just shy of his averages but has proven he has put a focus on his defensive ability. Over the last three games, Fontecchio has had an average 5.9 percent point differential when he is the main defender. To put that into perspective, Fontecchio is averaging a 0.7 percent point differential on the season. Being able to hold two of his three previous matchups to a negative +/- rating is a great sign. With illnesses and injuries plaguing Utah at the moment, this positive trend is a great look for Fontecchio to stay in Utah.

Sexton has been an offensive force as of late. In Utah’s last three games Sexton has averaged 27/3/4 while shooting 58.5 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from the perimeter. Even Sexton’s turnovers have been limited as his AST/TO ratio is at 2.4 where he has been averaging 1.8 on the season. The string of starts has looked to give Sexton some new life and with trade rumors lingering, this may be a positive look for him.

Injury Report

Brooklyn – Ben Simmons (back) Out, Dennis Smith Jr. (back) Out, Lonnie Walker IV (hamstring) Out

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

Where to Watch

Tip-off will be at 7:00 p.m. MST on KJZZ and Jazz+.