Upcoming Matchup: Trail Blazers vs. Jazz
The Portland Trail Blazers, with a record of 26 wins and 29 losses, will be in Salt Lake City on Thursday at 9 p.m. EST to take on the Utah Jazz, who currently sit at 18-37 in the Western Conference standings. Portland is looking to end a four-game losing streak on the road as they face a struggling Jazz team that has recorded only 10 victories out of 34 matchups against fellow Western Conference opponents this season.
Betting Odds and Team Performance
BetMGM lists the Trail Blazers as 7.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 237.5 points. Both teams have shown weaknesses in their recent games; however, Portland possesses a slight edge in terms of overall conference play, boasting a record of 20-16 against its Western rivals. The Blazers often capitalize on turnovers, posting a solid 10-7 record when they win that battle, though they average 16.5 turnovers per game.
Key Players to Watch
On offense, the Jazz rank high in fast breaks, averaging 15.1 points from quick transitions, largely fueled by Lauri Markkanen, who is scoring 26.7 points and grabbing 7 rebounds per game. Isaiah Collier has also been a notable contributor over the last ten games with an average of 15.6 points.
For the Trail Blazers, Deni Avdija is stepping up, having scored 33 points in their previous encounter with the Jazz on January 6, where Portland secured a 137-117 victory. In addition, Donovan Clingan is on the rise, averaging 11.4 points and the same in rebounds this season, while Toumani Camara has been hitting around 3 three-pointers per game in recent outings.
Recent Form and Injury Updates
In terms of recent form, both teams have had a rocky stretch. The Jazz stand at 3-7 over their last ten games, scoring an average of 114.5 points per contest, while allowing 118.5 points defensively. Similarly, the Trail Blazers also have a 3-7 record during this span, averaging 113.7 points scored and allowing 119.5 points.
In injury news, Utah’s Keyonte George is day-to-day with an ankle issue, while Walker Kessler has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury. Portland’s roster is also dealing with multiple injury concerns; Matisse Thybulle is out with a knee injury, and both Shaedon Sharpe and Kris Murray are day-to-day with calf and back issues respectively. Additionally, star player Damian Lillard will not return this season due to an Achilles injury.
As these two teams meet for the third time this season, fans can expect an intriguing matchup amidst their ongoing challenges.
