Jazz Face Two Teams With Combined 26-3 Home Record

Dec 22, 2019, 6:33 PM | Updated: Dec 23, 2019, 3:34 pm

Los Angeles Clippers Forward Kawhi Leonard (2) looks to drive to the basket during a NBA game between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers on November 3, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

BY TREVOR ALLEN, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz have three games this week with their two toughest matchups coming on the road.

Utah starts the week with the Miami Heat, wrapping up a three-game road trip on the east coast. Then they will play a home game against division rival Portland on the day after Christmas before finishing the week with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Heat and Clippers have a combined home record of 26-3, while the Jazz are 7-8 on the road and have won their 5 games and their last three road games.

Utah is coming off of a pair of come-from-behind wins with a 111-106 victory in Atlanta and a 114-107 win over Charlotte. In the game against the Hornets, Jazz head coach Quin Snyder was ejected for the just the second time in his career in the fourth quarter.

Quin Snyder has been ejected from the game.

The @UtahJazz hold a 99-97 lead over the Hornets with 6:44 left in the fourth quarter.

Some iffy officiating had Snyder red-hot. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 22, 2019

Mike Conley made his return last week after a five-game absence due to a hamstring injury. He started in the game against the Orlando Magic before re-injuring his hamstring in the fourth quarter. Conley will be reevaluated this week.

12/23 @ Miami Heat

The Heat are rolling right now with two straight wins and winners in six of their last eight games. They handed the Philadelphia 76ers their first home loss this season.

It’s the first meeting this season against the Jazz with their second and final meeting taking place in SLC on February 12. Last season, the two teams split their regular season meetings with both winning on their home floor.

Miami is led in scoring this season by forward Jimmy Butler who is averaging 20.4 points per game. Bam Adebayo is having a breakout season, averaging 15.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.

The Heat have two rookies averaging double figures in scoring with Kendrick Nunn (undrafted) posting 16.4 points and Tyler Herro (13th overall) recording 13.9 points per game.

#NYKvsMIA Final: HEAT 129 – Knicks 114

🔥 Adebayo 20pts, 8rebs, 3asts
🔥 Dragic 18pts, 8asts
🔥 Robinson 18pts, 3asts
🔥 Nunn 15pts, 3asts, 2rebs
🔥 Jones Jr., 14pts, 7rebs
🔥 Herro 12pts, 2asts, 2rebs
🔥 Olynyk 10pts, 10rebs, 3asts pic.twitter.com/RtOIhVHfhU

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 21, 2019

Team Records (as of December 22):

Utah: 18-11 (7-8 Away) – 2nd in Northwest Division, 6th in Western Conference

Miami: 21-8 (12-1 Home) – 1st in Southeast Division, 3rd in Western Conference

Where: American Airlines Arena (19,600) in Miami, Florida

When: Monday, December 23 at 5:30 p.m. (MT)

TV: NBA League Pass and AT&T SportsNet

Radio: 97.5 FM

12/26 vs. Portland Trail Blazers

After a slow start to the season, the Blazers have won four straight games and five of their last six. They are coming off of a 113-106 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at home. Hassan Whiteside had 16 points, 22 rebounds and 7 blocks. After the game, he labeled himself as the best “rim protector” in the NBA.

Portland is led by former Weber State star Damian Lillard. He currently ranks seventh in the NBA in scoring with 26.9 points per contest. Whiteside is averaging 15.7 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. C.J. McCollum is contributing 22.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest.

The Trail Blazers signed forward Carmelo Anthony a few weeks ago and he is producing for them with an average of 16 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest. Former Jazzman Rodney will not be available for the Blazers after suffering a torn Achilles a couple of weeks ago.

This will mark the first of four meetings between these two division rivals.

Last season, the Jazz and Hawks split the season series 2-2 with both teams winning one game on the road and at home.

Hassan Whiteside is a BEAST at the rim 😤#Blazers #NBA #NBATwitter #ripcity pic.twitter.com/bDt29Du5Td

— Blazers Nation (@BlazersNationCP) December 22, 2019

Team Records (as of December 22):

Utah: 18-11 (11-3 Home) – 2nd in Northwest Division, 6th in Western Conference

Portland: 14-16 (6-10 Away) – 4th in Northwest Division, 8th in Western Conference

Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena (18,306) in Salt Lake City, Utah

When: Thursday, December 26 at 8:30 p.m. (MT)

TV: TNT

Radio: 97.5 FM

Tickets: From $44

12/28 @ Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers have been on a mini-slump over the last four games with two wins a two losses. They lost to the Chicago Bulls and the Houston Rockets and beat the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs. Before that stretch, Los Angeles won four straight games.

Los Angeles is led by the super star duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George this season. Leonard is averaging 25.5 points and George is posting 24.5 points per game.

Last season, the Jazz won two of the three games against the Clippers, one in Los Angeles and one in Salt Lake City before losing to the Clippers in LA in the regular season finale with the Jazz resting their starters. These two teams have already met twice this season. The first game was back on October 30 in Salt Lake City with the Jazz picking up a 110-96 win before the Clippers picked up a revenge win with a 105-94 victory at home on November 3.

After Saturday’s game, the two teams will meet one more time in Salt Lake City on April 7.