Atlanta Hawks at Utah Jazz Preview
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Preview
The 2022-23 NBA season has been a tale of two teams for the Atlanta Hawks and the Utah Jazz. This summer, Atlanta pushed all their chips into the middle with a blockbuster trade. Utah kicked off a massive rebuild by trading away two All-Star players. Yet, the teams find themselves in the same situation.
Thanks to the leap Lauri Markkanen took this season, Utah has the fourth-best offensive rating in the league. Their lack of defense and overall youth will be what limits Utah, but their pace and outside shooting is enough to win plenty of games and have fun in the process.
On the flip side, Atlanta has not lived up to expectations. A slow start doomed Trae Young and Dejounte Murray's All-Star hopes, but it's not too late to salvage the season. Atlanta's break-neck pace is challenging for their opponents, and the team is well-positioned to make another late-season playoff push.
Friday night's matchup will largely hinge on Atlanta's defense. Can they contain Utah's perimeter attack? They failed at home in November when Markkanen scored 32 points, and Jordan Clarkson chipped in 23 points. A win tonight would go a long way for both teams' postseason aspirations.
Injury Report
Utah's injury report lists Simone Fontecchio (foot) as questionable for tonight's game. Meanwhile, Atlanta does not have any injuries to report at this time.
Odds
Spread: Hawks (+1.5)
Over/Under Point Total: 242
Money Line: Hawks (+100) Jazz (-118)
*Odds provided by SI Sportsbook
Television Listings
Location: Vivint Smart Home Arena
Time: 9:00 p.m. EST
Radio: 92.9 FM The Game
Network: Bally Sports
Live Stream: Click here for a fuboTV free trial!
Uniforms
The Atlanta Hawks will wear their Icon Edition uniforms (red). The Utah Jazz will wear their Icon Edition uniforms (yellow).
