Utah
Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Clippers: Preview, injury report, how to watch
The NBA consolation games continue for the Utah Jazz (5-19). The participation prize? The Jazz are about to play their second game in 8 days, as they travel to the City of Angels to take on the Los Angeles Clippers (14-12).
The Jazz were ran out of the building in the last matchup between these two teams, but now they return with some firepower. The Jazz and Suns tied the NBA record for a combined 44 three-pointers in the loss at the Delta Center — 22 of them coming from Utah’s end. NBA teams were 78-5 all-time when making at least 20 threes and shooting at least 56% from deep. Utah’s latest loss has now made it 78-6.
It’s been a rough spot for the LA Clippers. They’ve lost their last 3 games at the hands of the Wolves, Rockets and Nuggets. They’ve been shorthanded throughout this stretch and will continue to be tonight without Terance Mann or Derrick Jones Jr. The Clippers are shooting just 41.5% from the field and just 31.3% from beyond the arc. With their struggles on the offensive side of the court, this game could decided by just a few lucky or unlucky possessions.
Injury Report
Jazz:
QUESTIONABLE – Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis)
OUT – Svi Mykhailiuk (left groin strain), Taylor Hendricks (right fibula fracture)
Clippers:
OUT – Kawhi Leonard (right knee injury recovery), Terance Mann (left middle finger fracture), Derrick Jones Jr (right hamstring injury), Kobe Brown (back injury management), P.J. Tucker (not with team), Cam Christie (G League), Trentyn Flowers (G-League)
How to Watch:
Who: Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers
When: December 16th, 8:30PM Mountain Time
Where: Intuit Dome, Los Angeles
Watch: Jazz+, KJZZ
Cody Williams has a chance at redemption
Spending the last seven games with the Salt Lake City Stars, Cody Williams is back with the team after being recalled.
The 10th overall pick averaged 13.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals on 30/22/68 shooting splits in his time in the G League. These aren’t the most glamorous numbers, but Williams likely played his best game as a pro the last time he was against the Clippers.
He recorded 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 stocks on 60% from the field while making the correct defensive rotations and converting his open shots. 1 game later, Williams was sent down to the G League team so he could have a chance to put up more shots. If Williams could be somewhat productive after this new wave of confidence, the Colorado alumni might be able to work himself right back into the Jazz rotation.
What can Keyonte learn from the league’s former premier scorer?
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Jazz fans know this man all too well. He’s kicked this franchise in the backside for two consecutive playoff runs during the Donovan Mitchell/Rudy Gobert era. James Harden may not be the glory that he was back in 2018-19, but he’s managed to command the Clippers to a 14-12 record without Kawhi Leonard.
This season he’s averaged 21.4 points, 8.4 assists and 6.7 boards, shooting 38.0% from the field and 33.8% from deep. Poetically, he also became second on the all-time threes list the last time these two teams faced at Intuit Dome.
Keyonte George is setting himself up to be a Harden disciple. Well — not in the sense of dropping 40+ points on a nightly basis, but for how he accounts for the team’s scoring load. When Markkanen struggles, Keyonte has set himself up to be second-in-command for putting the ball in the basket. His combination of drives and three-point looks give him a delightful combo that results in unassisted buckets.
There’s still room for improvement — improving his shot selection could elevate his efficiency, and lowering his assist/turnover ratio. As he continues to refine his skills and find his rhythm, Jazz fans optimistic about George’s contributions to games in the future.