AP
Utah Jazz forward Jae Crowder, top, watches as Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard falls out of bounds during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
PORTLAND — It’s been a familiar refrain for the Utah Jazz so far this season — how the team has been playing the toughest schedule in the NBA.
As they have for much of the season, the Jazz currently rank No. 1 in strength of schedule with an opponent winning percentage of .535. However, coach Quin Snyder and his players have tried hard not to use the tough schedule as an excuse for Utah’s losing record going into Thursday night’s game.