Clarkson is averaging a career-high 21. 1 PPG this season while shooting 45% overall. The journeyman guard has improved as a playmaker as well with a career-high 4. 3 APG. Clarkson averaged 26 PPG in their two prior matchups with the Blazers and will likely see another big workload tonight. The X-factor for Utah tonight is big man Walker Kessler. The rookie first-round pick had trouble cracking the rotation in the early part of the season but has taken on a much bigger role thanks to an injury to Kelly Olynyk.
The Jazz rank fourth in scoring (117. 6 PPG) and utilize the three-ball to great effect. Utah ranks fourth in made threes per game (14. 4) while shooting a solid 37%. Utah is also a strong rebounding team, ranking seventh in total rebounding (52. 8 RPG). If the Jazz want to cover as road underdogs, they’ll need another strong performance from Lauri Markkanen. FanDuel’s -130 favorite to win Most Improved Player, Markkanen has been incredible this season. He averages 24. 8 PPG and 8.
Over his last five games, Kessler averaged 12. 6 PPG, 11. 8 RPG, and 1. 4 BPG. Expect to see a lot of Kessler around the rim as he takes on a Portland team that ranks in the bottom 10 in points in the paint allowed and rebounding. Why The Blazers Could Cover The SpreadPortland finds its season quickly slipping away from its grasp as they’ve fallen to 12th in a jam-packed Western Conference. That being said, the Blazers still sit in a nice position to cover tonight thanks to their strong perimeter play.
8 RPG – both of which lead the team. He’s been incredibly efficient as a scorer, shooting 52% overall, 43% from three, and 87% from the free throw line. The 6’11” sharpshooter has been on an absolute tear since the turn of the calendar, averaging 28. 9 PPG and 10 RPG in the month of January. Having scored 20+ in 16 consecutive games, expect Markkanen to have another big night against Portland’s middle-of-the-pack defense. While Lauri’s huge year has gotten most of the spotlight, guard Jordan Clarkson is having a breakout season in his own right.