Utah Jazz vs Toronto Raptors: Match Preview and Predictions - 1st December 2019
Match details
Fixture: Utah Jazz vs Toronto Raptors
Date & Time: Sunday, 1 December 2019, 6:00 PM ET
Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON, Canada
Last game result
Utah Jazz (12-7): 103-94 win against the Memphis Grizzlies (Friday, 29 November)
Toronto Raptors (14-4): 90-83 win against the Orlando Magic (Friday, 29 November)
Utah Jazz preview
Following an offseason where they made some serious acquisitions in the form of veteran point guard Mike Conley and sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic, the Utah Jazz were expected to finish in one of the top four seeds in the Western Conference at the very least. However, things haven't gone exactly as per plan for Quin Snyder's side who occupy the 6th position in the West right now.
While they have indeed managed to easily overcome the sub .500 teams, it's the contenders whom Utah have had struggles against. The Jazz have a paltry 4-5 record against winning teams in the league so far and they will have to be cautious against an in-form Toronto side.
Key player - Bojan Bogdanovic
Already recording a career-high in scoring numbers with 22.1 points per game this year, Bojan Bogdanovic has continued to drive Utah's offense of late. He was the Jazz's highest scorer in each of their last three games where he scored 24, 30, and 33 points respectively. Opposition teams' continued focus on limiting Donovan Mitchell from the field has worked in Bogdanovic's favor, who has thrived well in Utah's current string of road games.
Jazz predicted lineup:
Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Royce O'Neale, Bojan Bogdanovic, Rudy Gobert
Toronto Raptors preview
The defending NBA champs have remained unfazed following the departure of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green and boast a win-loss record that was exactly similar to the one they had last season after playing 18 games (14-4). A lot of it simply boils down to the way Pascal Siakam has elevated his play. However, the Raptors still have 9 players from last season's title-winning core and that chemistry is visible on the court.
Following an 8-4 start to the current season, Nick Nurse's side has made well of an easy patch in their schedule and are currently on a 6-game winning streak. More importantly, they have conceded 100 or more points only once during this stretch. This, coupled with the fact that Utah Jazz isn't known for a spitfire offense is only going to add to Toronto's confidence heading into the match-up.
Key player - Pascal Siakam
The biggest breakout story of last year, Pascal Siakam has continued his blazing form and is undisputedly the Raptors' present and future. Averaging 25.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg, and 3.9 apg so far this season – all career-highs – Siakam has occupied the same role that Kawhi donned for Toronto last year. Siakam's mobility despite his size also makes him an effective weapon on defense and the Cameroonian is the typical two-way wing that NBA head coaches yearn for.
Raptors predicted lineup:
Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol
Jazz vs Raptors match prediction
The Utah Jazz simply haven't turned up on the road so far this year. A mediocre 4-6 record away from home doen't translate well and the performances of Donovan Mitchell and co. during their currently ongoing 5-game road stretch hasn't really been inspiring. The Toronto Raptors on the other hand continue to play hard defense and are unbeaten so far at the Scotiabank Arena. The game should be a close one but Nick Nurse's side should get the W.
Where to watch Jazz vs Raptors
The local coverage of the game can be seen on AT&T Sportsnet and Sportsnet One. The match can also be live streamed via the NBA League Pass.