The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Top 5 games to look forward to in 2019-20

By Jared Woodcox

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 5: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz celebrate during the game against the Detroit Pistons on January 5, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 5: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz celebrate during the game against the Detroit Pistons on January 5, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – JANUARY 30: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on against the Utah Jazz on January 30, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – JANUARY 30: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on against the Utah Jazz on January 30, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Thursday, December 26th – Utah Jazz vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Last season, the Utah Jazz had the rare and remarkable opportunity to play on Christmas Day. It was without a doubt one of the highlights of the season as they came away with an incredible 117-96 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Considering that the small-market Jazz are far from a mainstay on Christmas Day, the NBA’s marquee day, it wasn’t surprising that they weren’t featured there in a second straight season. However, Jazz fans won’t have to wait long after Christmas to get back in the Jazz spirit as they’ll have an exhilarating game just one day afterwards against, ironically, the Portland Trail Blazers.

That’s right, Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and the crew will be in town for what should be a riveting holiday showdown. Despite some doubting them in each of the past two preseasons, the Blazers have managed to finish as the third seed two years in a row. They even made it as far as the Western Conference Finals in last year’s playoffs.

The Blazers underwent a lot of changes this summer, leaving far from a concrete consensus on whether they truly improved or not. Either way, once again many are hesitant to place them among the elite in the Western Conference even though they’ve finished there for two straight seasons. Regardless, they still figure to be a force in the West and the December 26th bout is certain to be a tough contest for the Jazz and could very well have playoff implications down the line.

For good measure, this contest will also be one of the Jazz’s few appearances on TNT, which is most certainly an exciting aspect in and of itself.

Considering the national coverage, the popularity of Damian Lillard in Utah, the timing of the contest coming right after Christmas, and the fact that this will be a competitive bout between two playoff regulars in the West, this is bound to be a thrilling contest that could very well set the tone for the games following the turn of the calendar year in the 2019-20 campaign.

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