On Thursday, the Orlando Magic welcome the Utah Jazz as they attempt to maintain a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Magic have a 27-39 record while the Jazz have a 31-35 mark so far this season. The Jazz won a close game against the Magic in Utah back in January, 112-108. Tonight’s game in Orlando will begin at 7:00 p.m.
The latest injury update for Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic
FOR THE JAZZ
The struggling Utah Jazz will play the Orlando Magic on the second night of a six-game road trip, hoping to rescue their playoff hopes.
Against Dallas on Tuesday, Utah suffered its fourth consecutive loss, a 120-116 defeat that pushed them to 0-3 on their pivotal road trip.
Even though Lauri Markkanen scored 33 points—his eleventh straight game with at least 20 points—the Jazz lost to the Mavericks by only a point after the Mavericks went on an 8-0 run with under three minutes remaining.
Utah’s six-game road trip began with two losses in Oklahoma City, and it concluded with a home loss to a bad San Antonio team on February 28.
On their current losing streak, the Jazz have scored fewer than their season average of 117 points in three of the four games. They scored just 94 points against the Spurs.
The only game in which Utah scored more than its average during this span was Sunday’s loss to Oklahoma City, and that was with leading scorer Markkanen (25.3 ppg) not in the lineup.
With their recent slump, the Utah Jazz have found themselves in a tight race for one of the four Western Conference play-in berths, along with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, the New Orleans Pelicans, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Portland Trail Blazers. Until Wednesday, only 2.5 games separated those seven clubs.
The Jazz Injury
Both Jordan Clarkson and Walker Kessler are doubtful for Thursday’s game, so they didn’t play. There is no timetable for Collin Sexton’s return.
| PLAYER | UPDATED | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Collin Sexton | Mar 8 | Hamstring |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 18
|
| Walker Kessler | Mar 7 | Illness |
Game Time Decision
|
| Jordan Clarkson | Mar 7 | Finger |
Game Time Decision
|
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FOR THE MAGIC
In the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic are slipping farther and further out of postseason contention.
With a 27-39 record, Orlando is currently 4.5 games behind Washington for the tenth and final playoff place.
A run is needed if they want to make the playoffs, which seems unlikely at the moment. Yet they have dropped their last two games, the latest being Tuesday’s 134-123 setback to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks were able to shoot 59%, which is awful news, but the Magic shot 50% themselves.
Cole Anthony’s strong play continues, as he scored 23 points to lead the Magic, and Franz Wagner chipped in 21 points and 6 assists.
The two players with the most combined scoring were Paolo Banchero (20 points) and Mo Wagner (18 points, 8 boards). In addition, Markelle Fultz contributed 16 points.
Though they allow only the 17th-most points per game, Orlando ranks 28th in the NBA in terms of their own scoring average. Banchero averages 20 points per game, which is best on the club.
The Magic Injury
| PLAYER | UPDATED | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Wendell Carter Jr. | Mar 8 | Hip |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 11
|
| Admiral Schofield | Mar 7 | Concussion |
Game Time Decision
|
| Jonathan Isaac | Mar 6 | Thigh |
Out for the season
|
