Northwest Division rivals meet on Monday night, as the Portland Trail Blazers host the Utah Jazz at the Moda Center.
The Jazz (12–22, 13th West) have dropped seven of their last nine games, entering Monday’s contest on a three-game slide capped by a road loss to the Warriors on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Blazers (16–20, 9th West) have won seven of their last 11 — punctuated by a Saturday statement win in San Antonio — but take the floor Monday night without several key contributors.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Utah Jazz
- Out: Walker Kessler (Shoulder), Kevin Love (Rest), Georges Niang (Foot)
- Questionable: Ace Bailey (Hip)
Portland Trail Blazers
- Out: Jerami Grant (Achilles), Scoot Henderson (Hamstring), Jrue Holiday (Calf), Damian Lillard (Achilles), Matisse Thybulle (Knee), Blake Wesley (Foot)
- Probable: Robert Williams III (Knee)
Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET. Portland enters as a 5.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Utah is listed as a +190 underdog. The game’s total is set at 241.5 points.
Jazz vs. Trail Blazers Preview
Utah Jazz Preview
The Jazz are completely out of tune. Without elite paint protector Walker Kessler, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in November, Utah owns the NBA’s worst defensive rating and has allowed a league-high 126.7 points per game.
While they won’t be competing for a title anytime soon, the Jazz feature a pair of players each making a compelling case for an All-Star nod. Veteran forward Lauri Markkanen averages a team-leading 27.9 points with 6.9 rebounds per game. He’s flanked by third-year guard Keyonte George, who’s putting up 24.5 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.2 boards a night.
Portland Trail Blazers Preview
Portland has won seven of its last 11 games, an impressive stretch highlighted by wins over both the Celtics and Spurs. Especially impressive, the Blazers have hung with some of the NBA’s top squads without several key contributors, including Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday.
Leading the charge is Deni Avdija, who has taken an extraordinary leap in his sixth NBA season. The 25-year-old forward is averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game — all of which are career highs. Portland also receives strong contributions from Shaedon Sharpe, who averages 21.3 points per game, and top-ten rebounder Donovan Clingan.
Jazz vs. Trail Blazers Pick, Best Bet
Utah’s defense is a cause for concern against any squad, but with Markkanen and George back in the lineup, the Jazz retain enough offensive firepower to keep up with the shorthanded Trail Blazers. Expect a competitive matchup, and count on the Jazz to cover the 5.5-point spread on Monday night.
