Jazz Schedule Takes Difficult Turn Amid Losing Streak
Nov 17, 2022, 2:08 PM | Updated: 2:09 pm
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson drives against Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz are on a three-game losing streak, and the schedule ahead isn’t going to make things any easier beginning with the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
After opening the season 10-3, the Jazz have doubled their previous number of losses over the last week dropping games against the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, and New York Knicks.
The Suns meanwhile travel to Utah after beating the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night 130-119.
Suns Open Difficult Stretch For The Jazz
Riding a three-game losing streak, the Jazz will face five likely playoff teams in the next six outings.
The Suns bring the West’s second-best record into Utah on Friday before the Jazz head back on the road for a tough matchup against the top-seeded Portland Trail Blazers on the second night of back-to-back games.
From Portland, the Jazz wrap up their two-game road trip with the ninth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.
Rudy Gay will be out at least two weeks after suffering a finger sprain on his left hand.
The move should clear room for rookie Simone Fontecchio who scored 9 points off the bench in Monday's loss. #TakeNote | @utahjazz https://t.co/bsjAYgBuK4
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 17, 2022
On Thursday, the Clippers announced that superstar Kawhi Leonard had been upgraded to questionable for their game against the Detroit Pistons after a knee injury has sidelined him for all but two games this season.
The Jazz will get a brief reprieve in their schedule next Wednesday when they host the league-worst Pistons, before heading out on the road for matchups against the Golden State Warriors and the Suns in back-to-back games after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Despite being the first team in the first team in the league to reach 10 wins this season, the Jazz now face a brutal six-game stretch that will require at least one win to preserve their plus-.500 record.
The Jazz will be without forward Rudy Gay after it was announced the veteran would miss the next two weeks with a finger sprain.
Suns Have Struggled Without Chris Paul
The Suns are just 2-3 over their last five games, and 2-2 since All-Star guard Chris Paul has gone out of the lineup with a heel injury.
Paul left the Suns loss to the Philadelphia 76ers last week after just 13 minutes due to the injury, and hasn’t returned to the lineup since.
The Suns lost games in Miami and Orlando following the injury bookended by wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Warriors.
.@mikal_bridges finished just shy of a triple-double!
✖️ 23 PTS
✖️ 9 AST
✖️ 9 REB pic.twitter.com/kn7GAHzCCI— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 17, 2022
Paul was listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game but was scratched before the game.
The Suns were also without Landry Shamet who is in the NBA’s concussion protocol. Cam Johnson is out for the next 1-2 months after undergoing surgery on a torn meniscus, and former Jazzman Jae Crowder is away from the Suns after both sides agreed to pursue a trade his offseason.
After their trip to Utah, the Suns return to Phoenix for four consecutive home games concluding with a rematch against the Jazz on November 26.
Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns Broadcast
The Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns will tip off at 7 pm MT in Salt Lake City. The game will be televised on AT&T SportsNet and can be heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. The game will also be streamed on DirecTV Stream and FuboTV.
