Grizz in Jazz City – Grizzlies vs Jazz Preview

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Elizabeth Smith

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Tonight your Memphis Grizzlies look to take on the Utah Jazz in Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. The Grizzlies come into this game at 18-16 (good for 6^th in the West) while the Jazz come in at 14-17 (8^th in the West).

Notes:

*Our own Memphis Grizzlies television announcer Brevin Knight spent his final season in the NBA with Utah in 2008-2009.

*The Grizzlies will be without Matt Barnes for the 2^nd game of his 2 game suspension per the NBA for the Derek Fisher incident back in October. Barnes will return to the lineup Monday against Portland.

*Zach Randolph will likely be in the starting lineup again in Barnes absence. In his last game against Utah Randolph went 5-12 from the field for 10 points. He also had 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. In his last 5 games, Randolph has averaged 16.2ppg on 58.9% shooting and 7rpg.

*Utah will be without Alec Burks (fractured left fibula) who has missed the last 3 games for the Jazz.

*Jazz will also be without Rudy Gobert (MCL sprain in his left knee) who has missed the last 15 games for Utah. Utah really misses his shot blocking capabilities. Their last meeting back in November, Gobert blocked 4 shots for Utah.

*The last time these two teams met on November 7^th, the Grizzlies shot 33% from the field, 31.6% from beyond the arc, and pulled 44 rebounds while Utah shot 41.9% from the field, 44.4% from 3, grabbed 49 rebounds, and blocked 10 shots (Grizz only had 1 blocked shot in this game).

*Memphis is looking to win 3 games in a row for the first time since November while Utah is looking to win 2 in a row after beating Portland 109-96 on New Year’s Eve.

*The Grizz are looking more like their old stingy defensive self lately. In 3 of the last 6 games, Memphis has held their opponents to under 93 points and have won 4 out of 6 of these games. The outliers were Washington (a 91-100 loss), Charlotte (a 98-92 loss), and the Lakers (a 112-96 win).

*Grizz must watch out for Trey Burke. He has scored a total of 50 points in Utah’s last 2 games on 54.1% shooting. In their last meeting, Burke had 6 3pointers against the Grizzlies.

Who: Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz

Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah

When: Saturday January 2^nd, 2016 at 8pm CST

Where to Watch/Listen: Fox Sports Southeast, 92.9 ESPN Memphis

*Stats via NBA.com*