Utah Jazz vs Philadelphia 76ers: Match Preview and Predictions - 2nd December 2019
Match details
Fixture: Utah Jazz vs Philadelphia 76ers
Date & Time: Monday, 2nd December 2019, 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Last game result
Utah Jazz (12-8): 110-130 loss to the Toronto Raptors (1st December, Sunday)
Philadelphia 76ers (14-6): 119-116 win against the Indiana Pacers (30th November, Saturday)
Utah Jazz preview
Quin Snyder's side is most certainly in the middle of a slump right now. In the four games that they have played so far in their current 5-game road trip, they've managed to secure only one win which too came against the not so favored Memphis Grizzlies.
For a team that's prided itself on defense, Utah have conceded 120 or more points in 4 of their last 5 games. In their most recent encounter against the Toronto Raptors, the Jazz were down 37-77 at half-time. Donovan Mitchell and Co. certainly need to regroup well heading into the game against Philadelphia.
Key player - Rudy Gobert
You can't talk about Utah's defense without talking about the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. Now Gobert hasn't been that bad of late but he most certainly needs to be on top of his game against Joel Embiid who is the 76ers' main offensive weapon.
We all know about his caliber as a shot blocker and rim protector. However, Donovan Mitchell's recent scoring inefficiencies mean that the Jazz might turn to him for offense from the low block too and he will be expected to deliver.
Jazz predicted lineup:
Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Royce O'Neale, Bojan Bogdanovic, Rudy Gobert
Philadelphia 76ers preview
Having won their first five games of the season, the Philadelphia 76ers at one point were the only undefeated team in the association. However, a 3-game road-stretch where they lost every fixture turned things upside down for Brett Brown's side. However, the Sixers have seemingly found their mojo again now and are currently in the middle of a 3-game winning streak.
The size of Philly's starting five – where the 6'5 Josh Richardson is the shortest – certainly helps their cause on the defensive end of the floor. This has translated well in terms of actual performances too as the 76ers have the 5th best defensive rating in the NBA. This will inspire confidence heading into the game against Utah who are struggling with offensive consistency.
Key player - Joel Embiid
Following what was certainly the worst game of his career against the Toronto Raptors where he scored zero points in 32 minutes of playing time, Joel Embiid has been on a tear lately. In the last three games, he has averaged nearly 31 points and 15 rebounds per game for Philly.
Not only is the 76ers' offense channeled through Embiid, he's arguably their best defender too. Getting matched up against a physical big like Rudy Gobert won't be easy, but this match-up will most likely decide the outcome of the game. This makes it all the more necessary for Embiid to dominate the paint on both ends of the floor.
76ers predicted lineup:
Ben Simmons, Furkan Korkmaz, Tobias Harris, Al Horford, Joel Embiid
Jazz vs 76ers match prediction
While weirder things have happened in basketball, the Jazz simply seem too underwhelming at the moment to eke out a road win against a championship contender. Quin Snyder's side will probably be back to their winning ways once their home stretch starts but they simply haven't performed well in away games this season. Given Joel Embiid's rejuvenation and the fact that the Philadelphia 76ers are 9-0 at home this season, this should be a straightforward win for the hosts.
Where to watch Jazz vs 76ers
Local coverage of the game can be caught on AT&T Sportsnet and NBC Sports Philadelphia. You can also live stream the game via the NBA League Pass.