Inside The Nets

GAME PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: Brooklyn Nets vs Utah Jazz

The Nets look to end their Western Conference road trip with a win against the Jazz.

Peter Sunjic

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The Nets look to bounce back from two consecutive losses with the final game of the road trip against the Jazz. Brooklyn could have looked better on their road trip, losing three out of their last four games. With the final game of the road trip against the Utah Jazz, the Nets can end the trip strong as they return to Barclays Center later in the week.

Utah is one of the worst-performing teams in the Western Conference, boasting a 6-17 record. They got All-Star Lauri Markkanen back from injury, but the rest of the team is hampered with ailments. This is a chance for the Nets to capitalize on ahead of a tough set of games next week.

What the Nets need to address against Utah

In previous games against the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn has shown they have problems with starting the game strong. They have been caught off guard by explosive performances from both of those teams leading to them playing on the backfoot.

The squad now boasts two top-tier scorers, thanks to Cameron Thomas' 41-point performance against the Warriors. He's struggled recently, but that game against Golden State shows that he's back on track. Cam and Mikal Bridges have recently been playing well, which could contribute to the Nets having a considerably greater offense than in recent games.

On defense, Brooklyn has to worry about guarding Lauri, who had a decent performance in his return against the Sacramento Kings. He scored 18 points with good efficiency, which will be a sticking point for the Nets. Royce O’Neale or Cameron Johnson will likely get the matchup but don’t count out Mikal, who can match up well against him too.

Injury Report

The Nets are still dealing with some injuries as Ben Simmons, Dennis Smith Jr., and Lonnie Walker IV remain on the sidelines. Dorian Finney-Smith was a late scratch from the Warriors game, and he is questionable ahead of this game against the Jazz.

On the other side, Utah has an extensive injury report as Jordan Clarkson has been out for a week with a right bicep femoris strain and he will be out for an extended period. Due to an illness going around the Jazz locker room Luka Samanic and John Collins are out for this game, while Omer Yurtseven is questionable. Lastly, promising rookie Keyonte George has been ruled out due to a foot injury.

This will be a fun game for both teams as they will look to outscore each other, given their mediocre defenses. However, expect the Nets to be locked in as they respond to two straight defeats.

Mikal Bridges feels the team needs to start their games better

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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