What To Expect In First Utah Jazz-Cleveland Cavaliers Matchup

Cleveland seeks its third consecutive victory with a win over Utah, and will see some familiar faces playing for the Jazz tonight.

The Cleveland Cavaliers won their last game in an overtime thriller, defeating the Houston Rockets by a score of 135-130 two nights ago.

Tonight, Cleveland will host the Utah Jazz in hopes of winning their third consecutive game to begin their current four-game homestand.

Here are three things to expect in tonight’s matchup between the Cavaliers and Jazz.

1. No Donovan Mitchell

After initially being listed as "questionable" due to an illness, Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell is now out for tonight's game, per the NBA's 6:30 p.m. ET Injury Report.

This now leaves the Cavaliers with just two of their usual starters in Jarrett Allen and Max Strus.

2. Another Cleveland Bench Blitz

The Wine and Gold are averaging 41.5 bench points per game in their last two contests.

This past Monday night, according to @CavsNotes on X, the Cavaliers had eight players score in double-figures for the first time since March 5, 2016.

The @cavs scored a season-high 135 PTS and had 8 players score in double figures for the 1st time since March 5, 2016 vs. BOS. https://t.co/5FKLmsF1Lq

— Cavs Notes (@CavsNotes) December 19, 2023

3. Jazz Crashing The Glass

The Jazz lead the NBA in offensive rebounds per game (13.6), and rank fourth in the league in total rebounds per game (46.5).

Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and John Collins are all averaging at least two offensive and eight total rebounds per contest.

4. Some Wine and Gold Reunions

All three players that Cleveland sent to Utah in the blockbuster Mitchell trade are set to suit up for the Jazz tonight.

Markkanen is leading Utah in scoring (23.2 PPG), rebounding (8.5 RPG), and three-pointers made per game (3.1), while shooting 38.4% from behind the arc this season.

Dec 19, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (35) in the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse / © David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Collin Sexton will be facing his former team in Cleveland for the first time. He is averaging 14.8 points and 3.4 assists per game, while shooting 34.0% from deep this season.

Ochai Agbaji, the Cavaliers’ 2022 first-round draft pick, is averaging 6.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per contest, while shooting 37.4% from three-point range this season.

However, Jordan Clarkson, who is averaging 16.6 points and 4.9 assists per game this season, is out due to a right hamstring strain, per the NBA's 6:30 p.m. ET Injury Report.