Utah To Regroup Against Memphis After Last-Second Loss to Warriors
Oct 22, 2018, 3:50 PM | Updated: 4:51 pm
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts as the Jazz score during an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. The Jazz lost in the final seconds of the game 124-123. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – After a heart-breaking loss at the final second to the Golden State Warriors Friday night, the Utah Jazz look to regroup against the Memphis Grizzlies Monday night at 7 p.m. at Vivint SmartHome Arena.
Defense Looks To Show Up
The Jazz, touted in the preseason for being a strong defensive team, have yet to show it on the court, ranking 22nd in the league in opponent points per game with 120.5. They do have the reigning defensive player the year manning the middle in Rudy Gobert, who is expecting to set the tone against the Grizzlies.
“I’d like us to have a great defensive game,” he said to Mike Sorensen of the Deseret News . “The first two games the other teams scored more than 100 points, so tonight would be a good night to beat a team defensively.”
Grizzlies Led By Veterans And Young Talent
The Grizzlies, who were unable to beat Utah in three tries last season, are led by their own man in the middle, longtime mainstay Marc Gasol and newcomer Jaren Jackson Jr., who was drafted fourth overall in last summer’s draft.
Though it’s early in his young career, Jackson Jr. has already shown promise, scoring 24 points in a 131-114 win over the Hawks on Friday night.
Rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. scores 24 PTS for the @memgrizz at home! #NBARooks #GrindCity #KiaTipOff18 pic.twitter.com/35lvDrBxep
— NBA (@NBA) October 20, 2018
The game will tip off at 7 p.m. Monday night and be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.
