4/4 Utah vs. Portland
7:00 pm MT – Root Sports/League Pass
Opponent record: 38-38
Season series: Tied 1-1
The last time Utah and Portland faced off, the Jazz came away with an enormous 111-88 victory. It was a much-needed win as Utah had dropped their previous three contests going into the game and it was great to be able to bounce back in the final contest before the All-Star break.
It was a game that saw four of Utah’s starters score in double figures and as a team post 71 points on 65.9 percent shooting in the second half. And while a performance like that may be hard to replicate, the Jazz will likely need something along those lines to win tomorrow as Portland has been on fire of late.
With an obvious determination to prove that they are indeed deserving of a playoff spot, Portland has won six games in a row and nine of their last ten. They posted an incredible 13-3 record in the month of March to come storming back into the playoff picture and will no doubt be a tough match-up for the Jazz given their electrifying recent level of play.
Portland’s been able to get to where they’re at thanks largely to the play of Damian Lillard who averaged 29.1 points per game in the month of March on 48.3 percent shooting from the field and 41.7 percent from deep. The Blazers’ best player has been relentless in his pursuit of pushing his team to the playoffs and there’s no questioning that the Jazz will have their hands full as they try to stop him.
The Trail Blazers improve to 13-3 in March and will finish with the best record in the NBA this month.
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) March 31, 2017
Damian Lillard now has 440 points this month (6 tonight), most ever scored by a Trail Blazer in March (438-Clyde Drexler, 1989).
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) March 31, 2017
However, Portland’s impressive push also came thanks to the incredible play of Jusuf Nurkic who the Blazers acquired in a mid-season trade with the Denver Nuggets. Nurkic put up 15.8 points and 11 rebounds last month and had been a crucial spark to the Blazers’ recent run.
Unfortunately for the Blazers, though, it was recently announced that Nurkic suffered a fibular fracture and will miss the rest of the regular season. This could very well have a devastating impact on Portland and in reality should give the Jazz the edge in the contest tomorrow.
This Just In: Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic will be sidelined for 2 weeks with a non-displaced right leg fibular fracture. pic.twitter.com/tmfGUcynXr
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 1, 2017
Not to mention, the bout will take place on the second night of a back-to-back for Portland as they’ll take on the Timberwolves in Minnesota today to make up for the March 6th game that was rescheduled due to a melting ice rink beneath the court that had made it too wet to safely play.
Therefore, while Lillard and Co. will likely be determined to continue their epic playoff push, between the game being played on Utah’s home court, Nurkic’s injury and the likely fatigue that Portland will be coming in with, I’m going to pin the Jazz as winners in this one.
My Prediction: Jazz Win
Final Score: Utah 103, Portland 96