GAME PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: Brooklyn Nets vs. Utah Jazz
Brooklyn ended their three-game losing streak with a momentous win over the Houston Rockets. However, there are still questions surrounding the Nets since the latest result was not so convincing. Now, the team will look to get a statement win against the visiting Utah Jazz.
The Nets had a masterful Cameron Thomas performance against Houston, where the 22-year-old scored 37 points. It’s unclear if Cam will get the start in this game, given Cameron Johnson might still be out due to personal reasons like the last game. Nevertheless, this will be a tough challenge because Utah has been resurgent over the past few weeks.
A fun game inbound for both teams
The Jazz had a rollercoaster season with a rocky start but have recovered since. Utah now sits tenth in the Western Conference standings with the same 24-23 record as the Los Angeles Lakers. Head coach Will Hardy has been fantastic in motivating his players to compete every night and grind out victories.
Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson will be the players to watch out for. The duo will be hard to defend, but the Nets have the personnel to match up, with Royce O’Neale guarding Lauri and Mikal Bridges taking on Clarkson.
This upcoming game between Utah and Brooklyn is no exception because the Nets are a tough challenge for the Jazz. Most people outside the Brooklyn fan base might count out the Nets because of the mediocre 18-27 record, but this is a hard team to play against.
During the recent three-game losing streak, the Nets could’ve won every game if they performed better in the fourth quarter. Coach Jacque Vaughn needs to motivate his players to lock in and close out games properly because the Nets are losing too many games that could’ve been victories.
Injury report
The Nets expect Ben Simmons to make his long-awaited return against the Jazz, and he’s probable for this matchup. Unfortunately, the Nets are still dealing with Day’Ron Sharpe’s injury, but he’s ramping up his conditioning to return soon. Dorian Finney-Smith rolled his ankle against Houston and will be out against Utah.
The Jazz are not dealing with any injuries, so they will be full strength against the Nets. That will make for a fun matchup for both teams, with the Nets looking to steal a win against the favored Jazz squad.