Wizards at Jazz
THE STORY: The fast start by the Utah Jazz is a distant memory after seven losses in nine games this month, including a season-worst 26-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. Utah has dropped back to .500 after being one of the biggest surprises during the first quarter of the NBA season. Washington is 2-1 on its current five-game road trip after starting the season by losing 10 of its first 11 road games. The Wizards lost to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet (Washington), ROOT (Utah)
ABOUT THE JAZZ (14-14): Utah has failed to reach 100 points in any of its last seven games and has scored 88 or fewer in four of its last six contests. The slump of forward Paul Millsap has played a big part as Millsap has scored 10 or fewer points four times during the last six games. Second-year forward Gordon Hayward has been a non-factor the past two games with eight total points since scoring a season-best 23 against the Memphis Grizzlies last Sunday.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (7-23): Guard Nick Young was fantastic in the first two games of the road trip before struggling badly against the Clippers. The former USC star had 14 points on just 5-of-18 shooting against Los Angeles after averaging 28.5 points and hitting 20 of 30 shots in games against the Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers. Young’s 35-point outing against Portland was a season high. He averages 17.8 points and has 13 20-point games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Washington won both meetings with Utah last season.
2. Wizards center JaVale McGee has scored 18 or more points in four straight games for the first time in his career and is averaging 20.5 points and 10.0 rebounds during the stretch.
3. The Jazz are 11-5 at home this season.