[9:00 PM] Raptors @ Jazz

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Raptors (20-8)

@ Utah Jazz (18-12)

 

• The line for this game is Toronto by 1.5 points.

• The Utah Jazz were establishing themselves as contenders in the Western Conference with wins in 11 of 13 games but suffered a bit of a course correction with two straight stomach-churning losses. The Jazz will try to bounce back and beat another top contender when they host the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

• Toronto star DeMar DeRozan had a string of four straight games scoring 30 or more points come to an end when he was held to 15 on 6-of-20 shooting against Brooklyn on Tuesday, but the Raptors still cruised to a 116-104 triumph. Toronto is displaying scoring options beyond DeRozan and point guard Kyle Lowry, and it was Norman Powell picking up some of the slack with 21 points off the bench against the Nets as Patrick Patterson rested up for the road trip and fellow reserve Terrence Ross had an off-night. Ross (10.7 points), Patterson (7.6 points, 5.8 rebounds) Cory Joseph (8.9 points, 2.8 assists and Powell (seven points) give the Raptors one of the best reserve units in the NBA.

• Utah is piecing together the backcourt due to various injuries and was without starting point guard George Hill (toe), starting shooting guard Rodney Hood (illness) and backup point guard Dante Exum (knee) on Tuesday. The Jazz are hoping to get Exum and Hood back quickly while Hill, who is averaging 20 points and 4.2 assists but missed the last 11 games, is back practicing and could be cleared to return on Friday. Those three should provide some support to Hayward, who scored 28 points in Wednesday’s setback and is averaging 22 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists as his candidacy for an All-Star spot grows stronger.

• Jazz C Rudy Gobert recorded a double-double in each of the last nine games and collected double-digit rebounds in 15 consecutive contests.

• Lowry is averaging 22.8 points on 55.2 percent shooting, including 56 percent from beyond the arc, in December.

• The teams split the two meetings last season, with each winning on its own home floor.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Toronto Raptors

Confidence: 4/10

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