The Hive Sports

Utah Jazz vs Brooklyn Nets Pregame Analysis

by Alma Bean Feature Image by Nell Redmond of AP Photo The Utah Jazz (24-23) takes on the Brooklyn Nets (18-27) on the first night of a back-to-back. What to Look For After two double-digit wins, Utah is looking to continue that trend against Brooklyn. Losing three of the last four games, Brooklyn is looking…

Alma Bean

January 29, 2024

2–3 minutes

Adrian Wojnarowski, Ben Simmons, Brice Sensabaugh, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Collin Sexton, Dariq Whitehead, Day’Ron Sharpe, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jason Preston, Johnny Juzang, Kris Dunn, Micah Potter, NBA, Nic Claxton, Taylor Hendricks, Utah Jazz, Walker Kessler

by Alma Bean

Feature Image by Nell Redmond of AP Photo

The Utah Jazz (24-23) takes on the Brooklyn Nets (18-27) on the first night of a back-to-back.

What to Look For

After two double-digit wins, Utah is looking to continue that trend against Brooklyn. Losing three of the last four games, Brooklyn is looking to get closer to .500. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Ben Simmons will be making his return to the court against Utah. It has been two months since Simmons has played due to a pinched nerve in his back. This season, in the six games he has played, Simmons is averaging 6.5/10.8/6.7 with his last game finishing with 2/15/4. In the absence of Simmons, Cam Thomas has picked up the slack averaging 22.7/2.8/2.6 as a starter. Earlier this season, Utah got to see Thomas at full strength as he finished the game with 32/4/3 with shooting splits of 52.2/71.4/100.

Though Utah will have their hands full in the backcourt, the duo of Kris Dunn and Collin Sexton will give Brooklyn a run for their money. In January, Sexton is averaging 21.6/2.4/6.0 with shooting splits of 52.2/45.0/88.7. Not to mention, Sexton reached a career-high in assists on Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets with 13 assists. At this rate, Sexton is on pace to set a career-high in assists and three-pointers made in a season. Dunn, since making his way into the rotation has been stellar defensively. Dunn is averaging 1.3 steals per game and has managed to have an average +/- rating of +5.1 on the season. If this play continues, this will be Dunn’s first season with a positive +/- rating.

Key of the Game

Rebounding. Coming into this game, Utah has positive differentials on all aspects of rebounding. In offensive rebounds (+1.6), defensive rebounds (+2.8) and total rebounds (+4.5) where Brooklyn’s largest differential in rebounding is offensive (+1.5). That offensive rebounding differential is thanks to Nic Claxton who is averaging 3.1 OREB per game. In Claxton’s last game against Utah, he struggled to command the paint with the presence of Walker Kessler. Kessler finished that game with 14 points, 14 rebounds (3 OREB) and 5 blocks while Claxton finished with 11 points, 7 rebounds (2 OREB) and 4 blocks. This will make for an interesting battle in the paint when they’re on the floor.

Injury Report

Brooklyn – Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) Out, Day’Ron Sharpe (knee) Out, Dariq Whitehead (leg) Out

Utah – Taylor Hendricks (G League) Out, Johnny Juzang (G League) Out, Micah Potter (G League) Out, Jason Preston (G League) Out, Brice S ensabaugh (G League) Out

Where to Watch

Tip-off will be at 5:30 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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