Shorthanded Jazz Look For Revenge Against Wizards

Apr 12, 2021, 1:37 PM

Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Utah Jazz Insider

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Though the Utah Jazz have owned the best record in the NBA for the better part of the year, the season hasn’t been without its low points. Perhaps no game better represents the worst of the Jazz this season than their 131-122 loss to the Washington Wizards on March 18.

The Wizards, led by guard Russell Westbrook blitzed the Jazz in the first quarter, jumping out to an 11 point lead after one quarter which ballooned to 18 points at halftime.

Westbrook finished the game with 35 point, 15 rebound, 13 assist triple-double, while Bradley Beal scored 43 points in the Wizards home win.

Shorthanded Jazz Look For Revenge Against Wizards

The Jazz will be looking for revenge against the Wizards but will be doing so without some major pieces in the backcourt. Mike Conley will miss the game as he continues to rehab his injured hamstring on the front end of back-to-back games for the Jazz.

The guard played his first full back-to-back series last week after the Jazz lost to the Phoenix Suns and returned to Utah to play the Portland Trail Blazers the next night, but the team is being cautious over the final month of the regular season with his injury.

Jordan Clarkson is doubtful for tomorrow (right ankle sprain).

Mike Conley is out (right hamstring injury management).

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) April 11, 2021

Jordan Clarkson has missed each of the team’s last two games with a sprained ankle. Clarkson last played for the Jazz in the loss to the Suns but has missed the team’s wins over the Trail Blazers on Thursday and the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. The sixth man is listed as doubtful as the team prepares to face Washington.

That means the Jazz will rely heavily on the services of Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles in hopes of extending their franchise-record 24 consecutive home win streak. Mitchell had 42 points for the Jazz in the first meeting between the two teams, while Ingles set a career-high with 34 points.

Mitchell is averaging 40 points per game over his last three outings and could become only the third player in Jazz history to score at least 37 points in four straight games if he can reach the mark against the Wizards.

The Jazz will likely have to rely more heavily on guard Miye Oni who played 12 minutes in the team’s win over the Kings. Quin Snyder could also opt to turn to two-way guard Trent Forrest for extra backcourt minutes to preserve the team’s standard rotation on the front end of a back-t0-back.

Westbrook On Tear In Beal’s Absence

While the Jazz are sure to be shorthanded, the Wizards could enter the game without Bradley Beal who has missed six of the team’s last eight games, including Saturday’s 134-106 loss to the Suns.

Beal is listed as probable despite his hip and back injuries.

Regardless of Beal’s status, the Jazz will once again have their hand full with Rusell Westbrook who has been on a tear as of late. Over his last 14 games, the guard has recorded 11 triple-doubles while averaging 22.6 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 12.5 assists.

Russell Westbrook’s numbers over his last 14 games are hilarious, even by his standards:

• 22.6 PPG
• 13.6 RPG
• 12.4 APG
• 43-30-70 shooting line
• 11 triple-doubles

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) April 11, 2021

Despite Westbrook’s eye-popping numbers, the Wizards are just 5-13 in their last 18 games and own the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Jazz represent the fifth stop of a six-game road trip for Washington who will be looking to guarantee themselves a .500 road trip with a win in Utah or Sacramento on Wednesday before returning home. The Wizards lost to Toronto Raptors to open the trip, beat the Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors before stumbling against Phoenix in their last outing.

Key Matchup

While both teams showed off their high-scoring backcourts in their last meeting, the key matchup on Monday will pit Rudy Gobert against the Wizards frontcourt of Alex Len and Robin Lopez.

Gobert had an unimposing 10 points and 13 rebounds in the Jazz loss to Washington in March and will have to provide better rim protection at home to extend the team’s win streak.