NBA Predictions: Portland Trail Blazers vs Utah Jazz
Portland Trail Blazers (28-19) vs Utah Jazz (26-21), Vivint Smart Home Arena
The Utah Jazz will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Utah. Both the teams will be meeting each other for the third time during this NBA season.
Let us see how things stand for both teams tonight ahead of the clash.
The Utah Jazz's perspective
The Jazz have been invincible lately with six wins in a row. They have not only beaten teams at home but have been decent on the road also.
They beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in their last game at home. The game saw another excellent display by Donovan Mitchell who finished with 24 points on the night. Also, Rudy Gobert grabbed 15 rebounds and ended up with 19 points for the game. Both the players will be vital for the Jazz tonight.
The perimeter defence will be a concern tonight for the Jazz because everyone knows what Blazers' guards can do from the arc.
The Jazz have beaten them twice in this season and will be confident to pull off another victory tonight.
The Portland Trail Blazers' perspective
The Blazers have won their last two games but are on the road against an excellent Jazz side tonight.
It all depends on how Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum play for the night. Both of them have been in good form lately.
Lillard scored 24 against the Pelicans in their last match, whereas CJ added 20 from his side. The only troubling fact for the Blazers is that they have been inconsistent on the road.
The Blazers are under slight disadvantage tonight, but they will be carrying the winning momentum with them from the last two games. Moreover, the Blazers will have a desire to revenge the previous losses at the hands of the Jazz.
Injury updates
Blazers:
NONE
Jazz:
Ricky Rubio (right hamstring)- QUESTIONABLE
Tony Bradley (right knee)- OUT
Dante Exum (left ankle)- OUT
Raul Neto (left groin)- OUT
Thabo Sefolosha (right hamstring)- OUT
How things might unfold
The Utah Jazz have been on a great run lately. The team have been playing with urgency to win and have been active on both ends of the floor. Their defence on the perimeter will be up for a test tonight.
The Blazers can't be trusted on the road. Moreover, with Rudy Gobert at the centre, driving in and mid-court jumpers will be very difficult to pull off for the Blazers' guards. It all depends on how they shoot from the perimeter.
The Jazz have an edge coming into this game.
Prediction: Utah Jazz to beat Portland Trail Blazers