Collins, Jazz square off against the Trail Blazers

Fri, Dec 1, 2023
NBA News (AP)

Portland Trail Blazers (6-12, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (6-13, 13th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Saturday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Portland plays Utah in Western Conference action Saturday.

The Jazz are 1-4 against Northwest Division opponents. Utah is 3-9 against opponents with a winning record.

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The Trail Blazers are 1-2 against the rest of their division. Portland is third in the Western Conference with 11.9 offensive rebounds per game led by Deandre Ayton averaging 3.2.

The Jazz are shooting 44.5% from the field this season, 3.7 percentage points lower than the 48.2% the Trail Blazers allow to opponents. The Trail Blazers average 11.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 fewer made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the Jazz allow.

The two teams play for the third time this season. The Trail Blazers defeated the Jazz 121-105 in their last meeting on Nov. 23. Jerami Grant led the Trail Blazers with 30 points, and Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 24 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Keyonte George is averaging 9.9 points and 4.9 assists for the Jazz. John Collins is averaging 13.9 points over the last 10 games for Utah.

Grant is averaging 22.8 points for the Trail Blazers. Shaedon Sharpe is averaging 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists over the last 10 games for Portland.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 4-6, averaging 111.1 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 7.6 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.1 points per game.

Trail Blazers: 3-7, averaging 103.7 points, 37.5 rebounds, 23.5 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.9 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Jordan Clarkson: out (thigh), Lauri Markkanen: out (hamstring), Kris Dunn: out (personal).

Trail Blazers: Robert Williams III: out for season (knee), Anfernee Simons: out (thumb), Ish Wainright: out (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.