The Portland Trail Blazers come into this game shorthanded and, well, just short. Facing Rudy Gobert without a recognizable center is not ideal as the team’s Covid-19 outbreak continues to sideline seven players and two coaches, with CJ also out recovering from a collapsed lung. On Monday, Portland was on the small side of a 132-117 drubbing by the Dallas Mavericks.
The Utah Jazz on the other hand are in the rarified air of third place in the West, slightly disappointed that they aren’t higher in the standings. Winners of 12 of their last 14, the Jazz are a very good team playing good basketball with perhaps another gear they haven’t used yet kept in reserve.