Game day preview: Milwaukee Bucks look to sweep season series vs. the Utah Jazz

The Bucks head to Salt Lake City looking to sweep the season series with the Utah Jazz.

The Milwaukee Bucks head to the Vivint Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, looking to sweep the season series against the Utah Jazz. Despite not having All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton in their first match-up last December 18th, the Bucks still handily took down the Jazz, thanks to the efforts of Bobby Portis Jr., Jrue Holiday, and Brook Lopez.

Reassert mastery over the Jazz

In that December match-up, Portis started for the absent Giannis—who was nursing a sore knee—and put up 22 points and 14 rebounds. The former Arkansas Razorback star scored 15 points in the first quarter to set the stage for the lopsided affair.

“I put a lot of work in, and the game is starting to slow down for me,” Portis said. “It's fun to see my development and cool to have teammates and coaches that trust me, for sure.”

Holiday also masterfully orchestrated the offense with 21 points and eight assists, while Lopez added 18 points, eight boards, and three blocks.

Utah will miss Markkanen

The Jazz, though, will not have a couple of key players for their match against the Bucks, as All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen will sit the game out because of a left-hand contusion. It’s an unfortunate situation, especially since the versatile forward is coming off a 40-point, 12-rebound performance in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in their last game.

Jazz Injury Report (as of 3/23):

OUT - Jordan Clarkson (left hand - fourth finger sprain)

OUT - Rudy Gay (low back soreness)

OUT - Lauri Markkanen (left hand contusion)

OUT - Collin Sexton (left hamstring strain)

QUESTIONABLE - Johnny Juzang (left hip flexor strain)

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 23, 2023

Making matters worse, Markkanen’s absence will surely hamper a Jazz squad that is in the thick of the fight for a spot in the postseason. At 35-37, the Jazz are in 11th place in the Western Conference standings. It’s currently a wild chase in the wild, wild, west as only three games separate the fourth-seeded Phoenix Suns and the 12th-seeded New Orleans Pelicans.