After Trade Deadline, Jazz Shorthanded In Toronto
Feb 10, 2023, 1:21 PM | Updated: 3:55 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz will be short several players when they travel to Toronto to face the Raptors on Friday.
After pulling off a blockbuster trade Wednesday, the Jazz will have only 10 players available, including some little-used players who are likely to get real rotation minutes as they open a four-game road swing.
The Raptors meanwhile will look to win their fourth straight game for the first time this season.
Jazz Down Multiple Players
After trading Mike Conley, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker at the trade deadline, the Jazz will be without three of the top six rotation players from the first half of the season.
Starting guard Jordan Clarkson is also out with a non-Covid illness against Toronto, while recently acquired Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones, and Russell Westbrook have yet to join the Jazz.
So if Jordan Clarkson doesn’t play tonight this is who is available for the @UtahJazz against the @Raptors:
Collin Sexton/Talen Horton-Tucker
Ochai Agbaji/Leandro Bolmaro
Lauri Markkanen/Simone Fontecchio
Kelly Olynyk/Rudy Gay
Walker Kessler/Udoka Azubuike— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 10, 2023
That leaves the team with 10 players available including Leandro Bolmaro, Simone Fonteccho, and Udoka Azubuike who have rarely seen the floor this season.
The Jazz are coming off arguably their worst stretch of the year having lost three consecutive games at home for the first time this season.
The team has stops in Toronto, New York, Indiana, and Memphis on the road as they head into the All-Star break.
Raptors Looking To Extend Win Streak
Despite heavy rumors that they may be sellers at the trade deadline, the Raptors turned out to be buyers as they reacquired former University of Utah star Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs.
OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet were all rumored to be available in trade talks but remained with the Raptors who are now expected to make a playoff push with Poeltl back in the lineup.
Welcome back, fam!⁰⁰ #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/oBDSfS9Mt0
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) February 9, 2023
Toronto sits in the 10th seed in the East and is 4.5 games back of the Miami Heat for the sixth seed and a guaranteed playoff spot.
The Jazz represent the Raptors’ second opponent in a five-game homestand that runs through the All-Star break.
Utah Jazz vs. Toronto Raptors Broadcast
The Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors will tip off at 5:30 pm MT. 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.
