The Utah Jazz (18-37) play host to the Portland Trail Blazers (26-29) at Delta Center on Thursday. The Trail Blazers have won both matchups against the Jazz this season and four of their last five meetings overall. Here are three key storylines to know heading into Thursday’s matchup:
1. Portland’s playoff aspirations: Portland had a goal of reaching the postseason this season after a strong finish last year, and they’re trending in the right direction. After going 9-6 last month, the Trail Blazers come into this matchup winning three of their last four games. That has Portland sitting 10th in the Western Conference, cushioning a five-game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies in 11th. That means this organization is headed in the right direction, and the play of Deni Avdija is a major reason why. The 2020 Top 10 pick was rewarded with his first All-Star appearance this season, averaging 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game. Donovan Clingan has also made some massive improvements in his second season, averaging 11.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. This is the core this team wants to build around, and it’s a core that could lead Portland back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season.
2. Jazz finding their groove in February: While Utah ranks 13th in the Western Conference, they’ve been dangerous this month. The Jazz come into this matchup amid a two-game winning streak. They started the month with a five-game road trip and narrowly lost to the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic before beating the Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat in their two most recent outings. Isaiah Collier has stepped up in Keyonte George’s absence, averaging 17.2 points and 13.2 assists over his last five games. Utah already had George and Lauri Markkanen playing like All-Stars this season, and with rookie Ace Bailey also coming on strong, the Jazz will be a team to watch in the second half of the season.
3. Points aplenty: This matchup has track meet written all over it. The most impactful variable is Utah’s defense, which ranks last in points allowed and defensive efficiency. Portland hasn’t been much better, sitting 23rd in points allowed. Their most recent matchups have supported that notion, with these teams combining for an average of 261 points over their last three meetings. The winner has scored at least 133 points in all of those, while the loser has averaged 125.7 points per game. We’re also looking at a matchup with both teams playing the backend of a back-to-back set, and it’ll be these teams’ final game before the All-Star break. What’s unclear is who will be able to suit up in this back-to-back, but Utah has scored at least 115 points in five straight fixtures, while Portland has at least 122 points in four of its last five outings. There’s no better way to close out the first half of the season with a Western Conference shootout.