Key Performer – Gordon Hayward
Given Utah’s recent onslaught of injuries that just never seems to improve, there’s a good chance that Rudy Gobert and Gordon Hayward may very well be the only two Jazz starters active for tonight’s game once again. However, even if that wasn’t the case, I’d still have Gordon pinned as the key performer.
Not only is he coming off a 30-point barrage against Portland in which he shot a solid 12-of-20 from the field, but Hayward will largely be matched up against Andrew Wiggins, who despite being a rising scorer in the league, isn’t exactly known as a lock-down defender.
https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/849469356732035073
However, with exception to Utah’s late November win over the Timberwolves in which Hayward dropped in 24 points, he’s largely struggled against Minnesota. Even in that first victory his efficiency wasn’t impeccable as he finished a solid but unspectacular 42.9 percent from the field.
Thus there’s a good chance that Hayward will look to bust out of his slump against the Wolves. Particularly knowing how much is at stake for this Jazz team and the fact that Utah may very well be shorthanded once again, I imagine that Gordon will be ready to be the leader tonight and that he’ll be able to put up a very similar performance to the one he had in Portland on Tuesday.