The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Keys to the Game

By Jared Woodcox

Oct 25, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts after dunking against the Portland Trail Blazers in the second half at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts after dunking against the Portland Trail Blazers in the second half at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 15, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) go for the loos ball in the third quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 111-88. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) go for the loos ball in the third quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 111-88. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

Prediction – Jazz 103, Blazers 96

The Jazz have won some games they should have lost this year and lost some that they should have won. Part of that has been due to injury while it’s also partially been due simply to Utah’s inconsistent play.

Tomorrow’s contest against the Blazers, however, is one they likely should win and certainly one they NEED to win. There’s no questioning that Portland has been playing extremely well of late, but given that they’ll be coming into the contest on the second night of a back-to-back, are without Nurkic and were handily beaten by the Jazz last time in Salt Lake, I’m feeling confident that Utah will come out on top.

Therefore, just as I predicted in this morning’s week preview piece, I’m pinning the Jazz as winners in a hard-fought contest by a score of 103 to 96.

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It won’t be long at all until these two teams face off a second time as the Jazz will be traveling to Portland on Friday. In that game, the Blazers will get to flip the script as it will be Utah that will be coming in on the second night of a back-to-back.

Therefore, it is vital that the Jazz take care of business tomorrow night by earning a much-needed win over Portland and build some confidence against a team that could very well be looking for revenge on Friday night on their home court.

As tough as Portland has played lately, beating them won’t be nearly as difficult as taking down both Golden State and San Antonio next week (assuming both play at full strength) so both contests against the Blazers in the upcoming four days will be of the utmost importance.

All stats courtesy of NBA.com

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