The Utah Jazz (33-41) will take on the Denver Nuggets (28-46) tonight at EnergySolutions Arena at 7:00 PM. The Jazz rank as the NBA’s best team defensively by allowing 94.9 points per game. They have gone 29-7 when allowing 96 or fewer points in a game. The Jazz will be looking for their third win in a row after beating Oklahoma City 94-89 on Saturday and Minnesota 104-84 on Monday after allowing an average of 102.8 points during a four-game losing streak prior to those 2 games. The last of those loses was a 107-91 defeat at Denver on Friday night as the Jazz gave up their highest point total in 35 games. Gordon Hayward had 24 points and Rudy Gobert added 14 and 14 rebounds in the loss, but the Jazz allowed the Nuggets to shoot 51.3 percent, which including 13 of 24 from 3-point range. The Jazz will look to earn a 4-game season series split with a win tonight at EnergySolutions Arena.
Utah Jazz Head Coach Quin Snyder talked with the media following shoot around:
Rodney Hood is listed as out for the Jazz with a concussion. Derrick Favors is probable after missing the last 2 games with back spasms, he did participate in shoot around today. Here is Derrick Favors with the media following shoot around:
The Jazz continue to be led by Gordon Hayward who is averaging 19.6 points per game. Rudy Gobert leads the team defensively as he averages 9.2 rebounds per game as well as 2.3 blocks per game. Trey Burke is averaging 13.0 points per game and 4.4 assists off the bench. He is playing better as of late and needs to play well tonight again. He needs to provide the Jazz that consistent spark off the bench. Burke talked with the media following shoot around this morning:
