Royce O’Neale Returns, Jazz Look For Third Straight Win
Jan 20, 2023, 10:32 AM | Updated: 7:27 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Royce O’Neale will make his return to Utah when the Jazz host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.
The Jazz are winners of two straight and four of their last five as they look to continue to strengthen their standing in the Western Conference Playoff race.
The Nets meanwhile will look to snap a four-game losing streak after falling to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.
Jazz Look For Rare Third Straight Win
The Jazz will look to win their third straight game for the first time since November 6-9 when they opened the season 10-3.
After Wednesday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers, the Jazz sit in the sixth seed in the West a half-game ahead of the 7th-10th ranked teams in the conference.
Updated standings are here ‼️
📲 https://t.co/6FlAlihMep pic.twitter.com/YSYhG67HU5
— NBA (@NBA) January 20, 2023
Sitting at 24-24, the Jazz will look to push themselves above .500 for the first time since December 30th when they sat at 19-19 and in 10th in the West.
The Jazz will be without Kelly Olynyk for the sixth straight game with an ankle sprain.
Forward Lauri Markkanen returned to the lineup on Wednesday with a 34 point, 12 rebound performance after a two-game absence due to a hip contusion.
Royce O’Neale Returns To Jazz
O’Neale returns to Utah for the first time since the Jazz traded him to the Nets for a 2023 first-round pick short before free agency opened in July.
The forward had been a key starter for the Jazz over the last three seasons averaging 6.9 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 38 percent from the three-point line.
Royce ➡️ Clax Attack pic.twitter.com/jWqPG64DOM
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 16, 2023
O’Neale is averaging a career-high 9.2 points and 4.1 assists while shooting 39 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three.
The Nets’ four-game losing streak coincides with Kevin Durant’s MCL sprain which he suffered on January 8 against the Miami Heat.
Utah Jazz And Brooklyn Nets Broadcast
The Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets will tip off Friday 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. It can also be streamed on DirecTV Stream and FuboTV.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
