The Utah Jazz find themselves in an unusual position as they head to Cleveland on Monday to take on Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers.
Utah Jazz:
- For the first time this season, the Jazz are coming off multiple victories in a row. They won 126-119 in Detroit on Thursday and followed it up with a 105-94 win against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.
- This recent success marks their first potential winning streak since they won six straight during the middle of the 2023-24 season.
- Utah’s defensive effort was notable in holding an opponent to under 100 points for only the second time this season.
- The Jazz shot 47.7 percent overall and hit 14 of 41 three-point attempts against Brooklyn, despite scoring only 19 points in the first quarter.
- Brooklyn, also in rebuild mode, committed 19 turnovers to Utah’s 18.
- The Jazz will aim to continue this momentum, though the odds are against them as they face their former superstar Donovan Mitchell and the red-hot Cavs.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
- The Cavaliers have won 25 of 29 games and boast an NBA-best 16-1 record at home.
- Cleveland is on its second four-game winning streak and had previously won 15 straight games to start the season.
- Donovan Mitchell, who played his first five seasons in Utah, is having another solid season with 23.3 points per game. Mitchell scored all 19 of his points in the first half of the 126-99 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
- Former Jazz player Georges Niang, who scored 13 points in the recent win over Philadelphia, is a key contributor off Cleveland’s bench.
- The Cavaliers recently welcomed back sharpshooter Max Strus, who had missed the first 27 games with an ankle injury. Strus scored nine points against Milwaukee but rested in the game against Philadelphia. His status for Monday’s contest has yet to be announced.
- Cleveland’s offense tops the NBA in shooting percentage (50.5%) and is second in scoring (121.7 points per game).
Key Players to Watch:
- Utah Jazz: Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Walker Kessler
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Max Strus (status pending)
The Jazz will look to extend their unexpected winning streak, while the Cavaliers aim to maintain their home dominance and continue their strong season. Fans can expect a competitive and exciting matchup as these teams bring their best to the court.
