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Utah seeking seventh straight win over Colorado

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Utah seeking seventh straight win over Colorado


Colorado (4-7, 1-7 Pac-12) at Utah (7-4, 4-4), Saturday, 3 p.m. EST (Pac-12 Networks)

Line: Utah by 21 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Series record: Utah leads 34-32-3.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

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Utah has sights set on winning a seventh straight game over Colorado in the series. The Utes sputtered on both sides of the ball in a 42-18 loss to Arizona and have dropped three of their last four games. The Buffaloes are trying to end a five-game skid and are coming off one of their worst losses of the season after falling 56-14 to Washington State.

KEY MATCHUP

Can Colorado’s backup quarterbacks throw the ball against Utah’s battered pass defense? The Buffaloes may be without quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is questionable for Saturday after getting sacked four times and suffering a pair of injuries against Washington State. The Utes were down three key defensive starters against Arizona and the Wildcats dialed up 325 yards through the air.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado: Travis Hunter has played more than 900 snaps this season, seeing time at defensive back and wide receiver. Hunter will need a big performance to give the Buffaloes a chance at the upset. He has 27 tackles and three interceptions on defense. Offensively, Hunter has tallied 614 yards and four touchdowns on 49 catches.

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Utah: Ja’Quinden Jackson has battled nagging injuries this season. Despite those injuries, Jackson has managed to pile up 674 rushing yards and average 5.1 yards per carry in 10 games. His production directly influences Utah’s success. The Utes are 8-1 over the past two seasons when Jackson rushes for at least 60 yards.

FACTS & FIGURES

Utah leads the Pac-12 in third down defense (.286) and time of possession (33:35). … Colorado has allowed a Pac-12 worst 54 sacks and 477 sack yards. … Utes QB Bryson Barnes has totaled 587 passing yards over his last two games and eight passing touchdowns in his last three contests. … Buffaloes safety Shilo Sanders has forced four fumbles this year, ranking first in the Pac-12 and second-best among all FBS players. … Utah WR Devaughn Vele has back-to-back 100-yard receiving games while averaging 18.3 yards per catch. … Colorado ranks seventh among FBS teams in turnover margin (+10). … The Utes have won 12 of 14 games against the Buffaloes dating to 1961.

___ Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here ___ AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football



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Utah

Juuso Välimäki talks equipment before 4 Nations Face-Off

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Juuso Välimäki talks equipment before 4 Nations Face-Off


Sidney Crosby’s infamous jockstrap made its first trip to Utah when the Pittsburgh Penguins were in town in January. It’s been (literally) tied to Crosby at the hip for more than 20 years and has seen approximately 1,700 games at various levels — not to mention countless practices, training camps, preseason games and off-season ice sessions.

It’s not that he can’t get a new one — the Penguins’ equipment managers, who are tasked with performing regular surgeries on the dying waistband, would be overjoyed if he did — it’s just that it’s comfortable for him. And if Sidney Crosby thinks it helps him play better, who can argue?

Utah Hockey Club defenseman Juuso Välimäki, who is representing his home country of Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off this week, also tends to hold onto his gear far longer than his equipment managers would like.

“I hate new stuff — everything,” he said. “I need a little bit of time to break the stuff in.”

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That was after a recent Utah HC practice, where he sported Finland-blue gloves and pants, which he’ll wear throughout the tournament.

“I know we’ll a have a couple of days (of practice) over there, but it might not be enough for me,” he told reporters.

Välimäki was also breaking in a new pair of skates that day. He’d used his old ones since the start of the summer, which is much longer than the average NHL player holds onto a pair.

The steel blades are replaced much more frequently than the boots themselves, but problems arise when the stitching that secures the toe cap in place starts to relent, allowing wind to hit the player’s foot as he skates — something that Välimäki experienced last season.

“I’ll usually play the year with one pair of skates, which is kind of crazy,” he said. “I remember (UHC head equipment manager Stan Wilson) last year had to throw my skates out after the season. He’s like, ‘you’re done.‘”

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“I know for a long time that I should change (my skates), but I just can’t wrap my head around it because they feel different and I just get in my head,” he said.

The process of breaking in equipment is different for everyone. Olli Määttä, for example, who is teammates with Välimäki both in Utah and on the Finnish national team, barely has to break it in at all.

“I think I need a day or two,” he said. “That’ll be fine. I’m sure we’re all a little different. It usually doesn’t take me much.”

Another Utah HC defenseman, Nick DeSimone, is the exact opposite of Välimäki.

“I don’t really mind new gear,” he said. “I love new skates. I’d probably wear new skates every two, three weeks if I could.”

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Utah center Barrett Hayton is on Välimäki’s side. He estimates that most of his body equipment (shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin pads and pants) is about five years old, meaning he may have used some of it his entire NHL career to date.

Hayton is also particular about his sticks.

“I can kind of feel when it’s a little long (or a) little short,” he said.

As a kid, he had a stick with a P28 curve, which is common to find at retail sporting goods stores. He’s stuck with it all the way to the NHL.

Josh Doan has also stuck with the same stick most of his life, but it’s not because he stumbled upon it at a store one day — it’s because it’s the same one his dad, Arizona Coyotes legend Shane Doan, used.

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Warrior, the company that supplied Shane Doan’s sticks during the latter part of his career, would send Josh mini versions of his dad’s sticks: same make, model, curve and lie. The only differences were the size and the flex.

Josh had to diverge in junior, college and the AHL because his teams had brand deals with other manufacturers, but now that he’s playing in the NHL, he’s switched back to that same Warrior stick.

Now, to answer the inevitable question: If Shane Doan were to suddenly return to the NHL after an eight-year hiatus, could he just use his son’s sticks?

“He’d have to flex up a bit — he likes a stiffer stick,” Josh said. “But ya, he could come out and use mine and perform pretty easily.”



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Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Preview

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Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Preview


Utah Jazz will face off against Lebron, Luka, and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. This is a rare home and away series, both teams’ most recent game was in LA. Now, they’ve relocated to Utah, where the Jazz will try to avenge their loss.

That might be really hard to do, especially considering how Monday night went. The Jazz lost 113-132, and it wasn’t that close. The Lakers, who have won 12 of their last 14, were already surging before getting gifted the 25-year old top-5 player, Luka Doncic. After coming off 6 weeks of rehab, Luka played below his standard during his Lakers debut on Monday. He rarely has two mediocre games in a row. Despite how Luka performs, the Lakers still have reenergized Lebron James on their team.

While this game might be hard to win, the Jazz have an opportunity to learn from their wrongs and play a much better game on Wednesday night. Isaiah Collier gets to go for another double-double, Walker Kessler gets to continue his breakout season, and Lauri and John get to continue being some of the more underrated forwards in the league.

Regardless of what happens, this young Jazz team gets to play some incredible talent. They will no doubt benefit from playing and learning from some of these Lakers on the court.

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Injury report

Out – Collin Sexton (left ankle sprain)

Out – Taylor Hendricks (right fibula fracture)

Out- KJ Martin (conditioning)

What to watch:

Who: Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers

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When: Wednesday, February 12th @ 7 pm MST

Where: Salt Lake City, Utah

How: 97.5 FM, Jazz+, KJZZ



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Luka Doncic makes LA Lakers debut in a 132-113 win over Utah Jazz

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Luka Doncic makes LA Lakers debut in a 132-113 win over Utah Jazz


Five-time All-NBA guard Luka Doncic begins Los Angeles Lakers career just over a week after his blockbuster trade from Dallas Mavericks.

Luka Doncic produced 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in his Los Angeles Lakers debut and LeBron James added 24 points, seven rebounds and eight assists as the newly formed star duo led the way to a 132-113 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz.

Austin Reaves logged 22 points and nine rebounds and Rui Hachimura added 21 points as the Lakers extended their winning streak to six games while coming out on top for the 10th time in the past 11 games. Jordan Goodwin scored 17 points in his second game with Los Angeles on Monday.

Doncic, acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster deal on February 2, played for the first time since Christmas Day, having recovered from a left calf strain. The Slovenian guard was on the court for 24 minutes and shot 5 of 14 from the floor, including 1 of 7 from 3-point range.

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Lauri Markkanen and John Collins each scored 17 points and Jordan Clarkson added 16 as the Jazz saw their road losing streak reach nine games. Johnny Juzang scored 14 points as Utah lost its third consecutive game overall and fell for the 12th time in its last 14 contests.

Collins, who had 11 rebounds, joined Isaiah Collier, who amassed 13 points and 10 assists, each posted a double-double for Utah.

Doncic had one turnover and one missed shot just over two minutes into the game before making his first basket in a Lakers uniform on a 3-pointer with 8:05 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Lakers led 37-25 after one period and were well in control by half-time, going into the locker room up 72-47. Reaves had 15 points before the break, James added 13 and Doncic had 11. The Lakers shot 60 percent over the opening two quarters, while the Jazz were at 40 percent.

Los Angeles opened the fourth quarter with a 100-75 lead and cruised to their third victory in three tries against Utah. The teams face each other for the final time this season on Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

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The Lakers’ only reason for concern came early in the fourth quarter when James went to the locker room briefly due to abdominal discomfort. He returned to the bench with just over eight minutes remaining but remained out for the rest of the game.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, right, celebrates with teammate forward LeBron James during the first half of an NBA basketball game, February 10, 2025, in Los Angeles [Mark J Terrill/AP]



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