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This is it, this is the final game of the NBA Preseason for our guys, and it's for all the marbles. Well, maybe not. Whatever it is, it *is* going to be another game where the Portland Trail Blazers (3-2) face off against the hosts Utah Jazz (3-2). All in all, the Jazz and Blazers will face off three times in this month. In the first preseason game the team fell 98-89 up in Oregon. Tonight's game is in the Aunt Viv. And later on this month, the first game of the NBA season, will see the Jazz @ Blazers again. Three times in 22 days. We love our North West Division brothers, but after a while you can get sick of seeing family so frequently.
#ICYMI: Game Preview | The Overtone | 5 Things to Watch | The Triad | Our bros over at Blazer's Edge
The Trail Blazers won their first three preseason games, vs UTA 98-89, vs PHX 115-100, and @ LAL 109-106 (OT). They then dropped the next two, @ LAC 109-108 and vs DEN (106-97). After tonight's game they have a seventh preseason bout @ GSW. That game is two nights from tonight, so this is the penultimate preseason game for Terry Stotts crew, and the ultimate one for Quin Snyder's bunch. As a refresher, the Jazz went: @ POR L, @ PHX W, @ LAC W, vs PHX L, and vs LAC W.
Why do they play seven games and the Jazz play six? I have no clue. Why is this game not in TV? No clue either.
Assumed Starters:
| Portland | Utah | ||
| Trail Blazers | Jazz | ||
| PG | Damian Lillard | vs. | George Hill |
| SG | C.J. McCollum | vs. | Rodney Hood |
| SF | Maurice Harkless | vs. | Joe Johnson |
| PF | Al-Farouq Aminu | vs. | Boris Diaw |
| C | Mason Plumlee | vs. | Rudy Gobert |
Key Bench:
| Portland | Utah | ||
| Trail Blazers | Jazz | ||
| Ball Handler | Shabazz Napier | vs. | Shelvin Mack |
| All-Around | Evan Turner | vs. | Dante Exum |
| Wing | Allen Crabbe | vs. | Joe Ingles |
| Stretch Big | Noah Vonleh | vs. | Trey Lyles |
Injuries / Absences:
| TM | Player | Injury | Status | |
| 1 | POR | Festus Ezeli | Knee Surgery | OUT |
| 2 | POR | Ed Davis | Undisclosed | ? |
| 3 | POR | Meyers Leonard | Lower Back | ? |
| 4 | POR | Pat Connaughton | Shoulder | ? |
| TM | Player | Injury | Status | |
| 1 | UTA | Gordon Hayward | Fractured Bone in Hand | OUT |
| 2 | UTA | Derrick Favors | Left Knee Soreness | OUT |
| 3 | UTA | Alec Burks | Rehabilitation | OUT |
I have nothing else to add because this game isn't on TV, and it's still the preseason. For at least another 48 minutes.
GO JAZZ GO!
Poll
Who's going to win?
This poll is closed
-
19%
Jazz by 11+
(9 votes) -
6%
Jazz by 6 to 10 points
(3 votes) -
14%
Jazz by 1 to 5 points
(7 votes) -
21%
Trail Blazers by 1 to 5 points
(10 votes) -
12%
Trail Blazers by 6 to 10 points
(6 votes) -
25%
Trail Blazers by 11+
(12 votes)