Jazz Play Home Finale Against Nuggets
The Utah Jazz will host the Denver Nuggets at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Jazz (36-44) are coming off a home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. They were led by Kris Dunn, collecting 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists on 9-of-10 shooting. Kelly Olynyk compiled 16 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. Udoka Azbuike totaled 12 points and seven rebounds, while Simone Fontecchio led the bench with 11 points and three boards. This will be Utah’s final home game of the season, where they’ve gone 22-18 thus far in 2022-23. Denver already secured the top seed in the Western Conference and is expected to rest most of their key players for a game that won’t affect their playoff positioning.
The Nuggets (52-28) are coming off a tight road loss against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. They were led by Bruce Brown, finishing with 31 points, six rebounds and four assists. Reggie Jackson registered 20 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals. Christian Braun totaled 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Deandre Jordan amassed 12 points and 11 rebounds. This will be the Nuggets’ final road game of the season, where they’ve gone 19-21 on the season. The Jazz are already eliminated from play-in contention.
The Jazz (36-44) are coming off a home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. They were led by Kris Dunn, collecting 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists on 9-of-10 shooting. Kelly Olynyk compiled 16 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. Udoka Azbuike totaled 12 points and seven rebounds, while Simone Fontecchio led the bench with 11 points and three boards. This will be Utah’s final home game of the season, where they’ve gone 22-18 thus far in 2022-23. Denver already secured the top seed in the Western Conference and is expected to rest most of their key players for a game that won’t affect their playoff positioning.
The Nuggets (52-28) are coming off a tight road loss against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. They were led by Bruce Brown, finishing with 31 points, six rebounds and four assists. Reggie Jackson registered 20 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals. Christian Braun totaled 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Deandre Jordan amassed 12 points and 11 rebounds. This will be the Nuggets’ final road game of the season, where they’ve gone 19-21 on the season. The Jazz are already eliminated from play-in contention.
Trail Blazers and Clippers Meet in L.A.
The Portland Trail Blazers take on the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Trail Blazers (33-47) fell out of postseason contention weeks ago, and they'll head into their final two games of the season having lost seven of their last eight contests. Their most recent stumble came Thursday night, when they dropped a narrow 129-127 decision to the San Antonio Spurs. Kevin Knox led the Trail Blazers with 24 points, adding three rebounds and two assists. Drew Eubanks furnished 23 points, nine rebounds, two assists and five blocks. Trendon Watford and Jeenathan Williams posted matching 16-point tallies while pulling down six and four rebounds, respectively. John Butler Jr. totaled 12 points, four assists, two rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Sklyar Mays went for 11 points, seven assists, two rebounds, one steal and one block.
The Trail Blazers have shut down all their front-line players, including Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant and Jusuf Nurkic, for the remainder of the season. Eubanks (ankle), Cam Reddish (back) and Watford (ankle) will all carry questionable designations.
The Clippers (42-38) are trying to hold on to the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference over the final two games of the season and come in with the Pelicans, Warriors and potentially the Lakers still all threats to that spot. The Clippers' most recent win came at the expense of their Crypto.com co-tenant, as they toppled LeBron James and company by a 125-118 score Wednesday night. Norman Powell led the way with 27 points, adding four assists, two rebounds, two steals and one block. Kawhi Leonard delivered 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Ivica Zubac generated a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double that included one assist, two steals and one block. Russell Westbrook and Bones Hyland pitched in matching 14-point, four-assist efforts.
The Clippers will remain without Paul George (leg) and Marcus Morris (back) for Saturday's game.
Saturday's game marks the third and final meeting between the teams this season. The Clippers hold a 2-0 series lead.
The Trail Blazers (33-47) fell out of postseason contention weeks ago, and they'll head into their final two games of the season having lost seven of their last eight contests. Their most recent stumble came Thursday night, when they dropped a narrow 129-127 decision to the San Antonio Spurs. Kevin Knox led the Trail Blazers with 24 points, adding three rebounds and two assists. Drew Eubanks furnished 23 points, nine rebounds, two assists and five blocks. Trendon Watford and Jeenathan Williams posted matching 16-point tallies while pulling down six and four rebounds, respectively. John Butler Jr. totaled 12 points, four assists, two rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Sklyar Mays went for 11 points, seven assists, two rebounds, one steal and one block.
The Trail Blazers have shut down all their front-line players, including Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant and Jusuf Nurkic, for the remainder of the season. Eubanks (ankle), Cam Reddish (back) and Watford (ankle) will all carry questionable designations.
The Clippers (42-38) are trying to hold on to the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference over the final two games of the season and come in with the Pelicans, Warriors and potentially the Lakers still all threats to that spot. The Clippers' most recent win came at the expense of their Crypto.com co-tenant, as they toppled LeBron James and company by a 125-118 score Wednesday night. Norman Powell led the way with 27 points, adding four assists, two rebounds, two steals and one block. Kawhi Leonard delivered 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Ivica Zubac generated a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double that included one assist, two steals and one block. Russell Westbrook and Bones Hyland pitched in matching 14-point, four-assist efforts.
The Clippers will remain without Paul George (leg) and Marcus Morris (back) for Saturday's game.
Saturday's game marks the third and final meeting between the teams this season. The Clippers hold a 2-0 series lead.
Struggling Spurs Host Timberwolves In Final Home Game
By Dan Bruno
The San Antonio Spurs play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves at AT-and-T Center on Saturday.
The Spurs, (21-59) enter their last home game of the season, looking to added one more to their, 14-26, home record. Devin Vassell (knee) and Jeremy Sochan (knee) will remain sidelined, while Doug McDermott (ankle) and Devonte' Graham (groin) are questionable for action. Keldon Johnson leads the team, averaging 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Tre Jones averages 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.3 steals, while Zach Collins is averaging 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. The Spurs average 112.5 points per game and they give up a league-most 122.8 points per game.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves (40-40) face their last road game of the season with a chance to improve on their, 19-21, road record. They must continue to bring their best effort as they are within a game of moving up or down a place in the standings, heading into the playoffs or the play-in tournament. Anthony Edwards leads the team, averaging 24.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals, while Rudy Gobert averages 13.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. Karl-Anthony Towns has been playing well since returning to action, averaging 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists across six outings. The Timberwolves average 115.4 points per game, but they give up an average of 115.7 points against.
The Spurs, (21-59) enter their last home game of the season, looking to added one more to their, 14-26, home record. Devin Vassell (knee) and Jeremy Sochan (knee) will remain sidelined, while Doug McDermott (ankle) and Devonte' Graham (groin) are questionable for action. Keldon Johnson leads the team, averaging 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Tre Jones averages 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.3 steals, while Zach Collins is averaging 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. The Spurs average 112.5 points per game and they give up a league-most 122.8 points per game.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves (40-40) face their last road game of the season with a chance to improve on their, 19-21, road record. They must continue to bring their best effort as they are within a game of moving up or down a place in the standings, heading into the playoffs or the play-in tournament. Anthony Edwards leads the team, averaging 24.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals, while Rudy Gobert averages 13.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. Karl-Anthony Towns has been playing well since returning to action, averaging 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists across six outings. The Timberwolves average 115.4 points per game, but they give up an average of 115.7 points against.