The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz 2017-18 Week 20 Outlook, Predictions

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 24: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz high fives teammates before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 24, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 24: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz high fives teammates before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 24, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – FEBRUARY 9: Justin Jackson #25, Bogdan Bogdanovic #8 and Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings look on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 9, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – FEBRUARY 9: Justin Jackson #25, Bogdan Bogdanovic #8 and Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings look on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 9, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3/3 Utah at Sacramento

8:00 pm MT – AT&T SportsNet/League Pass

Opponent record: 18-41

Season series: Jazz lead 1-0

After enjoying three whole days off prior to the game against the Timberwolves, the Jazz will then go on to play in a back-to-back set of their own as they visit the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. In almost astounding fashion, the Kings are one of six teams across the NBA with just 18 wins on the season putting them right in the thick of the great Tankathon that is sure to take place to close out the year as each of these miserable teams jockey for position to earn the best draft pick.

Honestly, I think it’s a disgusting scenario that features so many teams aiming to lose (blatantly or otherwise) so that they can hypothetically improve in future seasons. So many of these teams have been bad for so long, that you have to wonder when they’ll try a different approach, but I digress…

The Jazz made light work of the Kings the last time these two squads faced even though it was a road game during a time when winning away from Vivint Smart Home Arena was an extreme rarity. The Kings boast a couple of dangerous players, perhaps most notably Bogdan Bogdanovic who recently won the Rising Stars MVP award and has been on a complete tear lately, but in all, the Jazz significantly outmatch the Kings talent-wise.

Sacramento is currently riding a three-game losing streak and hasn’t defeated a team with a winning record since they sneaked past the New Orleans Pelicans back on January 30th. Barring an absolute meltdown on the part of the Jazz, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t win this game and win it handily.

My Prediction: Jazz Win

Final Score: Utah 121, Sacramento 103

Next: Utah Jazz-Dallas Mavs react: Mitchell and Co. withstand Barea’s barrage

If my predictions hold true, the Utah Jazz will go 2-1 this week which will include an important win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. As much as I’d like to see them play streak-busters and initiate a new win streak of their own by topping the Houston Rockets on Monday, I just don’t see it happening based on how Utah looked against Portland and Dallas last week.

However, they’ve surprised me before, so perhaps it’s unwise for me to count them out. Regardless of how Monday’s contest goes, though, I’m feeling very confident about Utah’s chances against both Minnesota and Sacramento, and logging yet another week with a winning record would be a great step in the right direction as Utah looks to make a playoff push in the final weeks of the regular season.

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