Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers: Injury Report and Game Preview

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The Utah Jazz are set to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night, but they will be without several key players due to injury. Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Walker Kessler, Jordan Clarkson, and Collin Sexton are all out for the game, leaving the Jazz with a depleted roster. The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, are looking to build on their recent win against the Charlotte Hornets and are currently 5.5-point road favorites.

The Jazz are coming off a win against the Houston Rockets, where Keyonte George scored 30 points and added eight rebounds and six assists. However, the team's defense has been a major concern, ranking dead last in the NBA in defensive rating and 28th in scoring defense. The Blazers, meanwhile, have been playing well offensively, ranking 13th in offensive rating since the beginning of February and averaging 116.3 points per game. With the Jazz's struggles on defense, it's likely that the Blazers will be able to put up a high score, making the over on their team total of 119.5 a good bet.

The injury report for the Jazz is a long one, with seven players out due to injury. In addition to Markkanen, Collins, Kessler, Clarkson, and Sexton, Taylor Hendricks and DeAndre Ayton are also out. The Blazers, on the other hand, have a relatively clean bill of health, with no major injuries to report. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.

Here are the current standings and statistics for the two teams:

• Utah Jazz: 14-48, tied for fewest wins in the West
• Portland Trail Blazers: 11-5 straight up and 12-4 against the spread over their last 16 games
• Jazz defense: ranked dead last in the NBA in defensive rating and 28th in scoring defense
• Blazers offense: ranked 13th in offensive rating since the beginning of February, averaging 116.3 points per game

The Jazz will need to find a way to slow down the Blazers' offense if they want to have any chance of winning, but with their depleted roster and struggles on defense, it's a tough task. The Blazers, on the other hand, are looking to build on their recent win and make a push for the playoffs.

In terms of betting trends, the Jazz have hit the game total Over in 26 of their last 36 games, making the over on the game total of 232 a good bet. The Blazers, meanwhile, have been playing well against the spread, going 12-4 over their last 16 games. With the Jazz's struggles on defense and the Blazers' strong offense, it's likely that the game will be a high-scoring affair, making the over on the game total a good bet. The injury report and defensive struggles of the Jazz are major concerns, and the Blazers are well-positioned to take advantage of these weaknesses.

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