Scoot Henderson Out
Matisse Thybulle Out
Toumani Camara Questionable
Ace Bailey Questionable
Kyle Anderson Out
Isaiah Collier Out
Walker Kessler Out
Portland is on their way to Utah tonight to complete their preseason. With the regular season starting next week, we’ll see how these teams use this final opportunity to prepare. Unfortunately, some injuries have already appeared on both sides. Unfortunately we won't see the fifth pick in the draft this year, Ace Bailey, along with Isaiah Collier, Walker Kessler, or Kyle Anderson. For Portland, Scoot Henderson is still sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Matisse Thybulle and Toumani Camara are dealing with some issues as well. Overall, neither of these teams are the most talented in the league, but missing key players on both sides hurts. Regardless, this should be a relatively even matchup.
Portland continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to a defensive identity. They are already benefiting from this strategy by acquiring Jrue Holiday. Which has stabilized this young core, and when they are fully healthy, this will likely be one of the top defensive teams in the league. However, offense remains a concern. Without a clear number one scorer, they are trying out different players. For most of the preseason, Shaedon Sharpe has been the go-to guy with the green light. Most of the half-court offense runs through Sharpe, while transition offense flows through Avdija. So far, this duo has been effective, especially when paired with two 7-footers. Shooting still poses a challenge, though. Without volume shooters, the offense often stalls and experiences steep scoring droughts, which they will need to overcome.
For Utah, the scene is a bit different. They’re in a strange limbo with this roster. They’ve completely handed the keys over to the youth movement aside from Lauri Markkanen. Outside of him, most of the starting lineup consists of players under 25. That youth has led to many errors and zero wins in preseason. They’ve struggled to score most games because their shooting is streaky. As a result, this offense tends to prioritize pace and getting to the rim. They’ve been excellent at drawing contact and getting to the line, which will be crucial against Portland. With so much size down low, Portland has been a real challenge for teams trying to get inside, but with athletic, springy players, Utah should be able to beat Portland’s slow-footed centers. Speed will be important. If Utah can keep the pace high and avoid getting bogged down against Portland’s half-court defense, they’ll be in a strong position.
Overall, the matchup is going to be a bit tricky. I have to say, I prefer the Portland roster, but with their limited scoring, it’s going to be tough. Still, the youth and injuries make me a little more doubtful about this Utah team. Their youth is unpredictable — some games everything clicks, other times it’s a disaster. At least Portland has shown consistency on defense, which is why I’m choosing them tonight.
Money line: POR (-142) / UTA (+120)
Total Points: 237.5
Spread: -2 POR (-115) / +2 UTA (-105)
Hansen has been one of the more interesting players we’ve seen in preseason. The rookie, 20-year-old out of China, has been somewhat inconsistent so far. In their game against Sacramento, Hansen took over in the third quarter, knocking down 2 threes and finishing with 16 points. If he can make at least one three tonight, he should have a good chance to hit. Considering he’s had the green light to shoot from beyond the arc, the 7’2" big man should at least have the opportunity to convert against an already banged-up Jazz squad.
Avdija is picking up right where he left off last season. As the de facto secondary playmaker on the starting lineup, Avdija has seen the ball a lot already. It’s his transition plays that make him dangerous, though. With the ability to go coast to coast or make the smart pass, Avdija should reach around this number tonight. Especially against a soft defense, Avdija will have plenty of opportunities to connect with his teammates.
He might only be 21, but George is already proving that his stats from last year are legitimate. He’s been the second-best scorer on the team and is leading the offense. The preseason has been tough on him, but against Portland, he should get plenty of opportunities. Especially if he can connect from beyond the arc, 15 points is well within his reach. The main focus for George will be scoring in transition against a slower Portland team. With his ability to get out in space and attack the rim before Portland can transition, he should hit around this number tonight!