Utah Jazz at Memphis Grizzlies Game Preview: Last one before Santa comes to down

Tonight the Utah Jazz will try to have one good last push in the win column before their long, well deserved Christmas Break. They have so far gone 2-3 on their long East road trip with this one game remaining. Getting a win tonight will mean the Jazz have gone .500 on this trip, which would be amazing for almost ANY era of Jazz basketball. Of course, the Memphis Grizzlies are also looking for a happy end to their pre-Christmas season. They have lost their last two games, to the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, and really don't want to drop three in a row going into the Holidays. The Jazz, well, while a win would be nice -- awesome even -- will probably be facing a little more motivation from the Grizz because of their recent losses.

Of course, Memphis played last night and could be a little more tired. They played last night without Zach Randolph or Tony Allen. They are both likely to miss tonight as well. (My hunch, of course the Grizz media notes has them listed as both questionable) Oh, well, a Grizz beat writer has their coach Dave Joerger putting those two guys out.

Griz coach Dave Joerger says Zach Randolph (sore right knee) and Tony Allen (right corneal abrasion) will not play tonight vs. Utah Jazz

— Ronald Tillery (@CAGrizBeat) December 22, 2014

So tired teams, injuries to Grizz starters, and they are playing on the second night of a back to back. I don't know if the Jazz have been naughty of nice, but this may be the closest thing we're getting to a present before Christmas.

They are still a long ways off from beating the best teams in the NBA in their own gym regularly. But I like our Jazz, I like the Rudy Gobert / Marc Gasol dynamic, and with no Tony Allen, live could be a little easier for Gordon Hayward if he's being checked by Tayshaun Prince instead.

Of course, Vince Carter always torches the Jazz -- but I'm sure Joe Ingles will give him a boomerang to the jumpers knee or something.

Merry Christmas all!