Donovan Mitchell faces his former team Monday night, as the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Utah Jazz at Rocket Arena.
The Jazz (13–25, 13th West) have lost six of their last seven games, a brutal stretch capped by a brutal 55-point loss at home to the lowly Hornets on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Cavs (22–18, 7th East) have won five of seven and are coming off Saturday’s double-digit home victory against the Timberwolves.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Utah Jazz
- OUT: Walker Kessler (Shoulder), Georges Niang (Foot)
Cleveland Cavaliers
- OUT: Max Strus (Foot), Dean Wade (Knee)
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Cleveland enters as a heavy 13.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Utah sits as a +500 underdog. The game’s total is set at 250.5 points.
Jazz vs. Cavaliers Preview
Utah Jazz Preview
The Jazz just lost by 55 points to the Hornets — you know, the 14-win Hornets. Granted, both Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic were sidelined, but the blowout underscored fundamental issues that have hindered the team all season long. Primarily, Utah’s defense is nonexistent — ranking dead last in defensive rating — and allowed nine different Hornets to score double digits.
With their frontcourt mostly intact for Monday’s contest — Walker Kessler is out for the season — the Jazz will be leaning heavily on Markkanen, whose 27.9 points per game rank in the NBA’s top ten. Meanwhile, fellow All-Star hopeful Keyonte George will attempt to rebound from a brutal showing against Charlotte, in which he tallied more turnovers (5) than points (4).
Cleveland Cavaliers Preview
Although they’re far from last year’s regular-season juggernaut, the Cavaliers have held their ground in the East and remain firmly in playoff contention. Cleveland has won five of its last seven games, including a double-digit triumph in San Antonio and punctuated by Saturday’s win over a talented Timberwolves squad.
The Cavs own the NBA’s seventh-best offensive rating, ranking fifth in made threes and third in points per game. And unfortunately for Utah, Cleveland’s high-octane attack is catalyzed by a familiar face. Former Jazz superstar Donovan Mitchell is headed for his seventh-straight All-Star appearance, averaging a career-high 29.8 points — fourth in the NBA — along with 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds a night.
The 29-year-old guard is flanked by fellow playmaker Darius Garland and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley — forming a sturdy nucleus that, when firing on all cylinders, can run teams out of the gym.
Jazz vs. Cavaliers Pick, Best Bet
A matchup between Cleveland’s offense and Utah’s defense could resemble Hulk vs. Loki in The Avengers. Facing his former team, expect “Spida” to remind the Jazz exactly what they lost — and lead the Cavs to a spread-covering victory on Monday night.
