Utah Jazz vs. Charlotte Hornets: Jazz finally return home

The Utah Jazz will look to earn their eighth straight victory as they finally return home to take on a fatigued Charlotte Hornets team.

As the old saying goes, there really is no place like home. And it feels like it’s been forever since the Utah Jazz have been there. Nevertheless, they ought to be returning in high spirits on Friday night considering that they just swept their recent four-game road trip to raise their winning streak to seven straight games.

However, it may also be somewhat odd as they’ll be returning home without a few of their former teammates as Rodney Hood and Joe Johnson were both traded at the deadline. Both had played significant roles in Utah’s latest victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, so the Jazz will have to adjust on the fly as they host the Charlotte Hornets tonight.

Things didn’t go so well for Utah last time they played Charlotte as Kemba Walker and Co. were able to take care of business against a flat-footed Jazz team that shot just 36.4 percent from the field. Donovan Mitchell was a bright spot with 35 points in the contest, though, so with Johnson and Hood now gone and newcomer Jae Crowder unlikely to suit up for Friday’s bout, the Jazz will likely need him to go off in that fashion again.

Then again, Ricky Rubio has looked so unstoppable of late, perhaps he’ll be able to continue to carry the offensive load. He did just that on Wednesday as he finished with 29 points on 50 percent shooting from the field. Over the course of Utah’s seven-game win streak, he’s looked impressive, averaging 20.7 points per contest on 53.8 percent shooting from the field and a scorching 56.5 percent from deep.

We all know those figures likely aren’t sustainable, but if Utah is to come out on top in the point guard match-up against recently named All-Star Kemba Walker, it will be crucial that Ricky keeps it up. Walker has lit up the Jazz in past contests and has consistently been a thorn in their sides. Stopping him will be a major key to coming out on top against the Hornets.

A big factor to look at in this one, in my mind, is the schedules of the two teams leading up to this game. Charlotte will be coming in on the back end of a back-to-back after falling in overtime to Portland last night. That quick turnaround after a long, grueling game could very well result in the Hornets not quite having their legs underneath them.

If the Jazz capitalize on that and produce the same offensive outburst that they did last time on their home court which was the domination of the Golden State Warriors, then a tired Hornets team should be an easy foe. However, the Jazz will also be playing in the first game back after a lengthy road trip, which is at times a tough situation in which the Jazz haven’t fared well in the past.

They will have the advantage of a day of rest prior – something Charlotte won’t have – so hopefully that will be enough to get the Jazz back in a groove as they finally hit their home court.

In short, if the Jazz hope to win, they’ll have to play at a fast pace as they have of late with Rubio pushing the tempo to take advantage of a likely worn out Hornets team. They’ll need to hold Kemba Walker in check and do everything they can to put any lingering anxiety or disappointment about the results of the trade deadline behind them.

The Jazz are easily the better team of the two and have been on a tear of late, while the struggling Hornets have lost two straight and find themselves eight games under .500. That doesn’t mean Utah can get complacent by any means, but adding all this up, I believe they’ll come out on top in the contest.

Prediction: Utah 104, Charlotte 92

Next: Utah Jazz trade aftermath: Joe Johnson, Derrick Favors and, yes, Boris Diaw

This would be a big win for the Jazz as it would give them their eighth straight victory, put them a mere game under .500 and be a nice bounce-back after struggling against Charlotte previously.

The two teams will tip-off tonight at 7:00 PM MT at Vivint Smart Home Arena.