Raptors at Jazz
The Utah Jazz were establishing themselves as contenders in the Western Conference with wins in 11 of 13 games but suffered a bit of a course correction with two straight stomach-churning losses. The Jazz will try to bounce back and beat another top contender when they host the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
Utah was beaten at its own game when the Golden State Warriors showed off their defense in a 104-74 drubbing on Tuesday and were hit with a different sort of gut punch when they squandered a 20-point lead and fell at home to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. "We should have never been in that situation," Jazz swingman Gordon Hayward told reporters. "I think we've done this, what, four or five times now this season? This one finally came back to bite us. You can't keep blowing 20-point leads and win every single time. This one stings for sure." The Raptors are winners of 12 of their last 14 games and are opening a six-game trip at Utah that includes stops at Western Conference powers Golden State and San Antonio. "This road trip will be a test for our defense," Toronto coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "You've got some high-octane teams in Utah, Portland, Golden State, Phoenix, San Antonio and the Lakers, all high-octane offensive teams. Our defense will be put to a test."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), ROOT (Utah)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (20-8): Toronto star DeMar DeRozan had a string of four straight games scoring 30 or more points come to an end when he was held to 15 on 6-of-20 shooting against Brooklyn on Tuesday, but the Raptors still cruised to a 116-104 triumph. Toronto is displaying scoring options beyond DeRozan and point guard Kyle Lowry, and it was Norman Powell picking up some of the slack with 21 points off the bench against the Nets as Patrick Patterson rested up for the road trip and fellow reserve Terrence Ross had an off-night. Ross (10.7 points), Patterson (7.6 points, 5.8 rebounds) Cory Joseph (8.9 points, 2.8 assists and Powell (seven points) give the Raptors one of the best reserve units in the NBA.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (18-2): Utah is piecing together the backcourt due to various injuries and was without starting point guard George Hill (toe), starting shooting guard Rodney Hood (illness) and backup point guard Dante Exum (knee) on Tuesday. The Jazz are hoping to get Exum and Hood back quickly while Hill, who is averaging 20 points and 4.2 assists but missed the last 11 games, is back practicing and could be cleared to return on Friday. Those three should provide some support to Hayward, who scored 28 points in Wednesday's setback and is averaging 22 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists as his candidacy for an All-Star spot grows stronger.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Jazz C Rudy Gobert recorded a double-double in each of the last nine games and collected double-digit rebounds in 15 consecutive contests.
2. Lowry is averaging 22.8 points on 55.2 percent shooting, including 56 percent from beyond the arc, in December.
3. The teams split the two meetings last season, with each winning on its own home floor.