Two teams that could really do with a victory will square off at the Moda Center on Saturday morning as the Portland Trail Blazers entertain the challenge of the Utah Jazz in the 2024-25 NBA season.
The home side are looking to avoid a third consecutive loss this weekend, while the visitors head to Ohio having been beaten in five matches on the bounce.
Match preview
Back on the road for the first time since November 28, the Portland Trail Blazers were on the receiving end of a comprehensive 127-105 defeat against the Los Angeles Clippers in Wednesday's meeting at the Intuit Dome.
Despite a rough shooting night for star man Anfernee Simons, Chauncey Billups's side went into the interval down by only five points, but their attacking woes would eventually catch up with them as they were blown away in the subsequent two quarters.
Either side of a 115-106 triumph over the Sacramento Kings to close out November, the Trail Blazers have now been beaten in four of their last five outings, representing their joint-worst form over a five-game stretch this term.
Consequently, the Blazers remain bottom but two in the Western Conference standings with about a quarter of the season gone, four wins better off than their next opponents, one place below, as well as the New Orleans Pelicans in 15th place.
A chance to return to winning ways against fellow strugglers is ideal for a team with the Trail Blazers' current woes, but it is worth noting they have only managed one win from their most recent six clashes against the Jazz.
Averaging more turnovers per game than every team in the NBA but one, Saturday's hosts will need to be more careful in possession if they are to avoid coming away empty-handed from yet another clash in front of their fans.
While the Utah Jazz gave a good account of themselves in their 105-104 defeat against the Los Angeles Lakers two days earlier, they went down with a whimper in Wednesday's 133-106 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the PayCom Center.
Having been held to exactly 25 points in each of the opening three quarters of play, Will Hardy's men headed into the final 12 minutes already down by 27 points but did well enough to avoid losing by a larger margin.
Losing five straight games for the second time this season, the Jazz have now been beaten in 10 of their most recent 11 matches, with their only victory since mid-November coming against the New York Knicks.
Less than four years on since finishing top of the West in the 2021 season, the Jazz currently find themselves on course to miss the playoffs once again barring a remarkable turnaround over the next couple of months.
In the second of three consecutive matches away from home, Saturday's visitors now go in search of a first victory on enemy territory in six matches before rounding up their road trip against the Sacramento Kings.
Portland Trail Blazers NBA form:
- W
- L
- L
- W
- L
- L
Utah Jazz NBA form:
- W
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
Team News
Trail Blazers guard Matisse Thybulle suffered a right ankle sprain last month and is expected to be out for a further two weeks, while Donovan Clingan misses out with a knee problem.
The home side will also be without the services of Robert Williams Jr through a concussion protocol, but the towering center is not far off making a return to action.
Twenty-five-year-old Justin Minaya recently put pen to paper on a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers but is still expected to feature in a limited capacity.
Forward Taylor Hendricks is a guaranteed absentee for the foreseeable future having undergone surgery on a broken right leg and is joined on the sidelines by Kyle Filipowski (lower leg).
Micah Potter missed his side's defeat to the Thunder through illness, but there is a good chance the American returns in time to suit up for Saturday's clash.
Portland Trail Blazers possible starting five:
Simons, Sharpe; Grant, Camara; Ayton
Utah Jazz possible starting five:
George, Sexton; Collins, Markkanen; Kessler
We say: Trail Blazers to win by 9+ points
The Utah Jazz's defensive malaise has been a major concern all-season long, and while the Blazers still have gears to find offensively, we are backing them to emerge victorious come the sound of the final buzzer.
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