What once looked like a potential measuring stick game for the Utah Jazz has suddenly lost its luster as they face the Kawhi and PG-less LA Clippers.
So, here we are — the game the Utah Jazz fans have had circled on their calendar since the NBA schedule was released. A showdown of titans in the Wild Western Conference and a chance for one team or the other to get a leg up in the season series and perhaps even a psychological edge going forward.
It’s Jazz-Clippers, man, and as the late, great Hot Rod Hundley might say, “you gotta love it, baby!”
Oh, wait… Paul George isn’t ready to go yet? OK then. What else, now? Kawhi Leonard is being held out for load management reasons? Well, alright then.
So, what we’re left with is our Jazz taking on Lou Williams and the load management All-Stars; essentially a worse version of last year’s Clippers squad. Don’t get me wrong, that’s still a team that can beat you — Williams in particular can get hot in a hurry — but this is absolutely a game the Jazz should win.
For their part, the Jazz have done a good job slowing the sharpshooter down recently. Over their last two games against LA, Williams has been under 29 percent from the field. Still, though, the Jazz front will have to keep he and second-year man Landry Shamet, who’s shooting 43.5 percent from deep thus far, in check.
Do that and start hitting shots for a change and this one should be academic.
Game Data
Broadcast Info
Tip-off: 8 PM MT on October 30 from Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, UT
TV: ESPN
Radio: The Zone Sports Network (97.5 FM & 1280 AM Salt Lake City)
Projected Starting Lineups
| Utah Jazz | Position | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Rudy Gobert | C | Ivica Zubac |
| Royce O’Neale | PF | Patrick Patterson |
| Bojan Bogdanovic | SF | Maurice Harkless |
| Donovan Mitchell | SG | Landry Shamet |
| Mike Conley | PG | Patrick Beverley |
The Jazz clearly dodge a bullet in this one with the load management All-Stars.
Injuries
Dante Exum remains out as he rehabs his right knee. There may be light at this end of the tunnel, however; Exum was assigned to the G-League’s Salt Lake City Stars on Wednesday to get in a full practice as opposed to just a shootaround.
Again, the Clippers will be without George, who is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and Leonard, who is being load managed. Meanwhile, Rodney McGruder could make his season debut after missing his team’s first four games with an ankle injury.
Prediction
The initial line on this game from our friends at The Action Network had the Jazz as 1.5-point favorites at home. However, that line has ballooned to six points and I expect the Jazz to clear that mark with relative ease if they can start hitting shots.
I’m going with the good guys in a 108-98 win.
Discussion
#LACatUTA will be the Twitter hashtag for the game and the comment thread is here and rolling for your leisure. Go Jazz!