Preview 76ers at Jazz
The Utah Jazz won three of the last four on a six-game road trip and are coming off a five-day layoff when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. The Jazz are hoping to still have some of the momentum around from a 97-91 win at Memphis on Monday as they start a stretch of three games in four days. The 76ers put together strong defensive efforts in back-to-back wins but fell apart on that end at Portland on Friday.
The 76ers allowed the Trail Blazers to knock down 18 3-pointers in a 114-93 loss that dropped them to 2-1 on the seven-game trip. Utah let its players take off for the holiday before bringing everyone back to town for a stretch of three of four at home. "When you’re playing better, you want to see that process continue," Utah coach Quin Snyder told reporters. "Hopefully the break won’t stunt that continued growth."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, TCN (Philadelphia), ROOT (Utah)
ABOUT THE 76ERS (4-24): Philadelphia held Orlando and Miami under 90 points apiece in back-to-back wins but the perimeter defense broke down against the Trail Blazers. The 76ers also have some trouble on the offensive end with the lowest scoring averaging (91.5) in the NBA and have failed to reach 100 points in five straight games. Tony Wroten (knee) returned from a one-game absence and scored 22 points off the bench Friday while Michael Carter-Williams was the lone starter to reach double figures with 17 points.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (9-20): Utah held opponents to an average of 90.7 points in wins over Orlando, Miami and Memphis on the trip and is concentrating on the defensive end. “Defensively we’re a lot better,” forward Gordon Hayward told the Salt Lake Tribune. “We’re not getting down into a huge hole, especially in the first half. I think that’s been a huge key. It’s just tough to always have to fight back and to have to come back from down 15, 20 and try to win a game.” Rudy Gobert is becoming a key part of that defense and grabbed 28 rebounds in the last two games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Jazz have taken five of the last seven in the series, including three straight.
2. Philadelphia F Nerlens Noel is averaging 9.2 rebounds in the last five games.
3. Utah F Trevor Booker (minor procedure) sat out Monday but is expected to play Saturday.