Rudy Gobert is headed back to Utah, but not in a Jazz uniform this time after he was traded to the Timberwolves last summer.
The three-time NBA All-Star was moved to Minnesota in hopes of boosting their NBA 2022 odds of making it back to the playoffs. However, they’re far from achieving their main objective because of their poor run of NBA 2022 results.
The Jazz have been one of the pleasant surprises this season and they have a chance to show why they won the trade when they host the Timberwolves at Salt Lake City.
Tomorrow’s a big day in the Association since we have 10 games on the menu. So continue to read on below as SBOTOP previews the top three matchups to keep an eye on.
Los Angeles Lakers @ Philadelphia Sixers
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are probable to play tomorrow. Neither of the Lakers stars played in the team’s 126-113 loss to the Raptors on Wednesday as James was nursing a sore ankle, while Davis had a non-COVID illness.
Dennis Schroder did all he could with 18 points, while Thomas Bryant and Russell Westbrook recorded 16 points each in the losing effort.
After going 8-2 recently, the Lakers have now lost back-to-back and they’ll now face a Sixers team that has James Harden back alongside Joel Embiid.
Harden returned after a 14-game absence due to a tendon injury but struggled in their 132-123 double OT loss to his former team, the Rockets.
He recorded 21 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals, but shot only 21-per cent from the field while coughing up the ball seven times.
Embiid, in contrast, had 39 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. He has averaged 30.8 points per game since coming back from his foot injury.
Similar to the Lakers, the Sixers are on a three-game losing streak but they’re still in the playoff hunt, sitting at eighth in the East standings.
Betting Tip: Philadelphia Sixers Asian Handicap @ -4.00 @ 2.04
Phoenix Suns @ New Orleans Pelicans
Following the Suns’ embarrassing loss to the Celtics, the Pelicans became the top seed in the Western Conference after defeating the Pistons on the same night. New Orleans can extend their lead by getting their 17th win of the season, while the same outcome for Phoenix would put them back to level terms at 16-9.
The Pelicans found their groove on the defencive end, which is the main reason why they’re on a five-game winning streak. Their ability, in particular, to hold opponents to league-worst 33-per cent shooting from three-point land has been a key element to their success.
Zion Williamson is on fire these last four games, averaging 29.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 66-per cent from the field.
The Suns, meanwhile, are coming off two of their worst regular season defeats in quite some time – losing to the Celtics 125-98 yesterday and 130-111 to the Mavericks on Tuesday.
After being named Western Conference Player of the Month last week, Devin Booker recorded only 28 points total in his last two outings – a far cry from his 92 points combined in his first two December games.
Backcourt partner Chris Paul looked rusty in his first game back against Boston with only four points and four assists, so he needs to play better for Phoenix to have a chance.
Betting Tip: New Orleans Pelicans Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 1.94
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Utah Jazz
The Rudy Gobert experiment has been unsuccessful for the Timberwolves thus far as their 12-12 record is not what they expected when they gave up a steep package to acquire the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Gobert’s numbers have dropped across the board as he is averaging 13.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. Last season, he posted norms of 15.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game.
They need more from the Stifle Tower as Karl-Anthony Towns is sidelined for four to six weeks due to a calf injury.
After a hot start to the 2022-23 campaign, the Jazz have fallen to sixth in the West standings as they’ve gone 4-6 in their last 10 games.
Utah are hoping that Mike Conley’s return helps. The 35-year-old was averaging 10.2 points, 7.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, and he’s expected to return after missing nearly three weeks due to a strained knee.
However, they’ll have to do without Collin Sexton, who’s out for at least one week because of a hamstring injury.
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