4/1 Utah vs. Charlotte
7:00 pm MT – AT&T SportsNet/League Pass
Opponent record: 35-41
Season series: Jazz lead 1-0
A part of me thinks this one could be a challenging bout for the Jazz as the Charlotte Hornets will be fighting for their playoff lives. Another part of me thinks the Hornets may be resigned to the fact that they’re practically out of the hunt already and destined to miss the postseason yet again.
Mathematically they’re still alive at just three games out of eighth place in the East. However, with a difficult schedule ahead, the Orlando Magic standing between them and the eight spot and odds looking slim, they may already be feeling somewhat dejected.
Charlotte’s best shred of hope went out the window when they lost in disappointing fashion to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night by a score of 129-115. From there, the Hornets followed that up with an embarrassing whooping from the Golden State Warriors on Sunday where they fell 137-90.
They’ll be heading to Salt Lake to play on the second night of a back-to-back from there which is far from a favorable situation. All-Star Kemba Walker had one of his worst showings of the season at Oracle Arena on Sunday as he went just 4-of-14 for a meager nine points. That could mean that he’ll be primed for a major bounce-back game against the Jazz, who he’s enjoyed considerable success against in the past. Or it could mean that the Hornets are already down for the count.
While a talent like Kemba can never be counted out, and Charlotte has some other exciting guys, considering that their playoff hopes are all but extinguished at this point, that they’ll be playing on the second night of a back-to-back and that that they’re an atrocious 11-26 on the road, I’m pinning the Jazz to win in an exciting game.
My Prediction: Jazz Win
Final Score: Utah 112, Charlotte 108