When the Utah Jazz take on the Portland Trail Blazers tonight, they will be depleted of players.
For the third time this season, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Utah Jazz square battle. Before the game, both sides will be without a few important players.
Jordan Clarkson (thigh) and Lauri Markkanen (hamstring) will remain the Jazz’s two leading scorers. Utah declared on Friday that Markkanen is improving and will have another assessment the following week.
Markkanen won’t be available for this game, making it his fifth consecutive without playing. Before the loss, Utah’s best player was averaging 23.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Markkanen should get better as quickly as possible. For the first time, players must participate in at least 65 games in order to be considered for the All-NBA squad.Markkanen’s number of games played this season will be important to watch because he will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025.
The following players won’t be available for Saturday night’s game: Taylor Hendricks (G-League), Brice Sensabaugh (G-League), Josh Christopher (G-League), Kris Dunn (personal), and Michah Potter. Kelly Olynyk, the backup forward, has a problematic shoulder.
The Trail Blazers are without starter shooting guards Robert Williams (knee), Ish Wainwright (knee), and Anfernee Simons (thumb).
This season, the Jazz and Trail Blazers have split their first two encounters. Vegas has the Jazz set as a 1.5-point favorite in the rematch.It starts at 7:30 p.m. MST.
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