Utah Jazz Week Three Outlook, Predictions

11/11 Utah at Orlando

5:00 pm MT – Root Sports/League Pass

Opponent record: 3-3

Season series: Tied 0-0

The Orlando Magic are one of the stranger squads in the league this year with an overwhelming number of bigs on their roster. Many thought that a group that included Serge Ibaka, Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Bismack Biyombo simply would not be able to co-exist on the same team.

Through the Magic’s first three games, that looked to very much be the case as they started out the year 0-3. Nevertheless, since then the Magic have won three straight under the guidance of new defensive-minded head coach Frank Vogel.

The Magic currently boast a top-ten defensive team with enough size and length to frustrate any opponent.

However, their three wins were all over middling opponents, so it remains to be seen whether the Magic are truly on the upswing or if the latest slate of games was just a fluke. If they are to keep playing at the high level that they have been, they’ll need to continue to be the beneficiaries of big games out of Evan Fournier who is currently the Magic’s leading scorer at 18.2 points per game.

In the Magic’s recent win over the Sacramento Kings, Fournier exploded for 29 points on 10 of 15 shooting.

The Magic swept the Jazz last year in embarrassing fashion, so Utah will be looking to redeem themselves this year and I truly expect them to do so. Orlando’s length hasn’t exactly translated over into offensive prowess and the Jazz are easily able to counter with size of their own that is much more talented.

The Magic figure to have to deal with a lot more growing pains so far this season while the Jazz are quickly becoming a cohesive unit. I could be surprised in this one, but I’m expecting a sizable Jazz victory.

My Prediction: Jazz Win

Final Score: Utah 98, Orlando 85