Jazz Close Preseason Against Mavericks

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz face the Dallas Mavericks in their final preseason game Friday night before opening the regular season on Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets.

The Jazz are 1-2 in their first three preseason outings with losses to the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs, divided by a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Mavericks are 1-1 in preseason play and will also conclude their exhibition schedule against the Jazz on Friday.

Beasley, Azubuike, Fontecchio Have Injuries For Jazz

The Jazz will be without three players in their preseason final when they face the Mavericks as Malik Beasley, Udoka Azubuike, and Simone Fontecchio will all miss the game.

Beasley suffered an ankle sprain in the first quarter against the Trail Blazers, but despite returning to the game in the second quarter, has not appeared in the Jazz last three halves of basketball.

Azubuike suffered a significant ankle injury last season while playing with the Salt Lake City Stars and has yet to appear in the preseason.

Updated @utahjazz injury report.

*OUT – Simone Fontecchio (left quadriceps contusion)

OUT – Udoka Azubuike (right ankle surgery)

OUT – Malik Beasley (left ankle sprain)

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 14, 2022

The former first-round draft pick went through full practice with the Jazz for the first time on Thursday since the injury but has not been cleared to play in games.

Fontecchio was added to the Jazz injury list on Friday morning due to a left quadriceps contusion. The Italian rookie averaged 4.3 points in three preseason appearances for the Jazz.

The Jazz roster currently sits at 17 players and must be trimmed to 15 players by October 18.

Mavericks Return To Utah

The Mavericks return to Utah for the first time since eliminating the Jazz in the opening round of the 2022 postseason.

Despite playing without Luka Doncic in the first three games of the series the Mavericks took a 2-1 series lead over the Jazz and closed the series in Utah in Game Six.

The final rehearsal 🏀

🆚 @utahjazz
⌚️ 8PM CT
📺 @BallySportsSW
📻 97.1 FM and 99.1 FM pic.twitter.com/Usmc2tqvWw

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) October 14, 2022

The Mavericks lost guard Jalen Brunson during the offseason to the New York Knicks but welcomed Christian Wood, JaVale McGee, and rookie Jaden Hardy to the roster over the summer.

Dallas also signed Facu Campazzo to sure up their backcourt earlier this week as the team finalizes its roster.

Jazz And Mavericks Preseason Broadcast

The Jazz and Mavericks will tip off at 7 pm and will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and can be heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. The games will also be streamed on DirecTV Stream and FuboTV

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