NBA

Streaking Utah Jazz Look for 5th-Straight Win

The surging Utah Jazz look to extend their four-game winning streak, as they host the Miami Heat in the final meeting between the two teams this season.

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The Utah Jazz go for their fifth-straight win.
The surging Utah Jazz go for their fifth-straight win.

After losing four straight games to drop to a 7-8 record, the Utah Jazz have bounced back to win four consecutive games to improve to 11-8, 7th overall in the Western Conference. They look for their fifth win in a row, as they host the Miami Heat, who have recently snapped a two-game skid. The Jazz recently routed the Houston Rockets at home, 120-101, while the Heat took down the Denver Nuggets, 106-98.

The Utah Jazz will have the benefit of two days off prior to their upcoming game against the Heat. Meanwhile, Miami will be playing in the second game of a back-to-back schedule; also their second stop in a three-game Western Conference road trip. This will be the second and final meeting for both teams this 2016-17 season.

In their November 12 game, the Utah Jazz were able to come up with a 102-91 road victory over Miami. 6’8’’ small forward Gordon Haywood notched 25 points on 10-for-20 (50%) shooting. Third-year shooting guard Rodney Hood added 17 points on 6-for-13 (46%) shooting. 7’1’’ French center Rudy Gobert had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while also coming up with 2 steals and 2 blocks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6VjpqXtL8E

The Miami Heat were without starting point guard Goran Dragic, who sat out the game with a sprained ankle. Dragic is second in the team in scoring at 16.2 ppg. He also leads Miami in assists with 6.6 apg. Heat center Hassan Whiteside, led the stand against Utah with 15 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks.

One of the things to look forward to between the Miami Heat and the Utah Jazz game is the clash between two of the best defensive centers in the league. Miami’s Hassan Whiteside is 1st in the NBA in rebounding (15.1 rpg) and 2nd in blocks (2.56 bpg). By comparison, Rudy Gobert is 3rd in blocks (2.53 bpg) and 8th in rebounding at 11.1 rpg.

Miami will be without starting shooting guard Dion Waiters and his backup Josh Richardson in their game against the Utah Jazz. Waiters is out for two weeks with a torn pectineus in his groin, while Richardson is listed as day-to-day because of a sore ankle.

The Utah Jazz will have their complete roster against Miami.