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Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz: Preview, injury report, and how to watch details

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

Feb 7, 2020; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) is held back from referees after the game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz won 117-114. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 7, 2020; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) is held back from referees after the game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz won 117-114. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tomorrow night, the Portland Trail Blazers open their season against the Utah Jazz. Here’s a look at the injury report, watch details, and things to know for the game.

In exactly 24 hours time, the new-look Portland Trail Blazers will kickstart the 2020-21 season against the Utah Jazz.

While fans won’t necessarily be able to verify conclusions about this team after one game, it will provide Portland with an excellent litmus test, considering the similar paths and All-Star talent the Blazers and Jazz have.

Just to illustrate just how closely-connected the Jazz and Blazers have been in the Western Conference standings: dating back to 2015-16, the Blazers’ average Playoff seed has been 5.6, and the Jazz aren’t far behind (6.0).

In the grand scheme of things, this game won’t decide who is better, but with how tight the race will be, the winner will have bragging rights and tiebreaker advantages (at least temporarily), as well as confidence heading into an uncertain season.

As noted in today’s article, the Portland Trail Blazers are 6-2 in the Lillard regime on Opening Night, including a miraculous, come-from-behind win over the Jazz in the 2016-17 season opener.

Last season, the two met on three occasions, with the Jazz winning the series 2-1. Most memorably, they met during Damian Lillard’s torrid offensive streak, when an controversial no-call left the Blazers without a win after they had only seven players healthy for most of it.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Lillard, the ultimate competitor, had elephant memory in regards to that game. He lapidified the Jazz’s backcourt defense, and found the strength to score amongst the trees time and time again last season.

In total, he averaged 42.3 points and 8.7 assists, 54-57-90 percentage splits against Utah’s respected defense. As a response, Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell offered up 25.3 points and 6.0 assists on 51.8 percent shooting in response.

Schematically, the Jazz will provide the Blazers with another tough look, especially with Terry Stotts’ new defensive tendencies. No team in the NBA ran more pick-and-rolls for their guards than Utah did last season.

So, looking into how Portland resists will be must-watch. The Blazers enter as one-point Vegas favorites.

Beyond that, here are things to keep eyes on when the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz meet for the 193rd time in head-to-head history.

How to follow the action:

— Date: Wednesday, December 23rd
— Time: 7:00 pm PT
— How to watch: NBA League Pass, or FuboTV
— How to listen: NBA League Pass Radio or Rip City Radio 620 AM

Injury report, per CBS Sports

— (POR) Anfernee Simons, hamstring (game time decision)
— (POR) Nassir Little, health and safety protocols (out)
— (POR) Zach Collins, ankle (expected to be out until Jan. 30)
— (UTA) Derrick Favors, knee (game time decision)

Projected starters:

— POR — Damian Lillard (G), CJ McCollum (G), Derrick Jones Jr., (F), Robert Covington (F), Jusuf Nurkic (C)
— UTA —  Mike Conley (G), Donovan Mitchell (G), Joe Ingles (F), Bojan Bogdanovic (F), Rudy Gobert (C)