Gobert Questionable For Jazz Against Raptors

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz might down a starter for a second straight night when they face the Toronto Raptors on Friday. The Jazz have listed Rudy Gobert as questionable ahead of the team’s game after Mike Conley sat out the Jazz loss to the Washington Wizards on Thursday.

Gobert is dealing with a left hip contusion which he got treatment on Thursday immediately following the loss.

The Jazz traveled to Tampa late Thursday night where the Raptors have played their home games during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rudy Gobert is questionable for tonight’s game with a left hip contusion.

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) March 19, 2021

Jazz Have Lost Five Of Eight

The Jazz are playing their worst stretch of basketball this season, punctuated by their disheartening loss to the Wizards in the Nation’s Capital.

After trailing by as much as 24 points in the first half, the Jazz trimmed the Wizards lead to as few as seven in the fourth quarter but ultimately couldn’t generate enough stops to slow Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, and Washington’s attack.

Joe Ingles on the @utahjazz recent play:

"People are going to give us their best shot night in night out and then we have to be ready for it. If we continue to not be, then it's going to be a miserable second half of the year."

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) March 19, 2021

“People are going to give us their best shot night in night out and then we have to be ready for it,” guard Joe Ingles said. “If we continue to not be, then it’s going to be a miserable second half of the year.”

Ingles scored a career-high 34 points in the outing, while Donovan Mitchell added a season-high 42 points but allowed Beal to score 43 top drop their fifth game in their last eight outings.

Gobert’s absence would be a difficult hole for the Jazz to cover as the center has appeared in every game so far this season. The All-Star center has a defensive rating of 103.9 this season, while backup center Derrick Favors rating drops significantly to 110.7.

Raptors Looking To Halt Losing Streak

Like the Jazz, Toronto is looking to stop one of their worst stretches of basketball this season.

The Raptors have lost six straight games, their longest winless streak of the season including a 116-112 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.

With the losses, the Raptors have fallen out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, down to the 11th seed, outside of the play-in tournament.

COUNT IT

FORTY FOR NORM pic.twitter.com/F0f772uQKQ

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 18, 2021

Guard Norman Powell scored a career-high 43 points, but Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam shot a combined 7-37 for 33 points dooming the Raptors to the loss.

The Jazz can’t let their guard down despite the Raptors streak, as they allowed the Wizards to snap a five-game losing streak of their own on Thursday.

Key Matchup

The key matchup will pair Mitchell and VanVleet in a duo of high-scoring guards. Mitchell is averaging 25.1 points per game after his big outing on Thursday while shooting 42 percent from the floor and 38 percent from the three-point line.

After signing a four-year, $85 million extension during the offseason, VanVleet is averaging 19.9 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds to lead the Raptors.

😤 35 PTS, 15 REB, 13 AST
😤 13th triple-double of season
😤 159th triple-double of career@russwest44 was ACTIVE in the @WashWizards victory vs. Utah! #DCAboveAll pic.twitter.com/UBq5fyvuE6

— NBA (@NBA) March 19, 2021

The Jazz have struggled to contain guards during their recent string of losses allowing Beal and guard Russell Westbrook to combine for 78 points in the loss Thursday night.

Broadcast

The Jazz and Raptors will tip-off at 6 pm MT, the game will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.

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