Match details-

Fixture: Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers

Date & Time: Thursday December 26, 2019, 10:30 PM ET (Friday, 3:30 AM GMT)

Location– Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake County, Utah

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Preview-

Since the addition of Carmelo Anthony, Portland Trail Blazers have looked as good as any other side in the league. They had their four game winning streak ended in the last game with a disappointing loss to New Orleans Pelicans. The Trail Blazers are currently eighth in the Western Conference with a win-loss record of 14-17. On Thursday, they will be travelling to Utah to face the Jazz who have 11-3 home record.

Utah, like  Portland, have lost their last match. Miami Heat stopped Utah’s five-game winnings streak. In their 107-104 loss on Monday, Joe Ingles had scored a game-high 27 points. Rudy Gobert had scored 18 points and took down 20 rebounds. Their 18-12 record in the season places them sixth in the Western Conference. Utah will also be playing their first game after inflicting the first trade after the pre-season. Their signing Jordan Clarkson could add to their bench strength.

Injury updates and team news-

Utah Jazz-

Injuries: Mike Conley (Hamstring)- Out

Expected starting line-up: Joe Ingles, Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale, Rudy Gobert

Portland Trail Blazers-

Injuries: Jusuf Nurkic (Lower leg)- Out, Rodney Hood (Achillies)- Out, Zach Collins (Shoulder)- Out

Expected starting line-up: Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Kent Bazemore, Carmelo Anthony, Hassan Whiteside.

Predictions-

Thursday’s fixture would be tight one with both Trail Blazers and Jazz have won six out of their last 10 games. Utah would be looking to extend on the 11-3 home record on the back of Donovan Mitchell, Joe Ingles. The Trail Blazers will look up to the likes of Damian Lillard and Carmelo Anthony to outscore their opponents.