Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz – Game #6
Lonnie Walker IV and the Spurs will try to rebound against the Jazz (Photo via Twitter)
The San Antonio Spurs will try to get back on a winning track on Sunday against the Utah Jazz. This will be the third game of San Antonio’s three-game homestand. Their first two games resulted in losses to the Los Angeles Lakers — 121-107 on Wednesday and 109-103 on Friday. On the season, the Spurs are 2-3.
The Jazz, 3-2, have rotated wins and losses since opening the season with a 120-100 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Their latest game was a 106-100 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
San Antonio Spurs Injury Update
After playing his first game of the season following offseason toe surgery, Derrick White is out again with what the Spurs are calling a sprained toe. While it’s unknown if it’s the same toe, it’s confirmed to be the same foot. Are the Spurs bringing back White slowly and is this part of the recovery plan? The team hasn’t clarified. If this is a new injury for White or if he re-injured the toe that needed surgery, this could be a significant blow for San Antonio.
LaMarcus Aldridge is questionable once again due to left knee soreness. He was questionable prior to both games against the Lakers — and ended up missing each one.
Utah Jazz Injury Update
For the Jazz, Derrick Favors is questionable tonight with soreness in his right knee. Royce O’Neale is probable with a contusion on his right knee.
Favors has played all five games for the Jazz this season and is averaging 9.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 16.6 minutes per game. O’Neale has also played in all five games and has started each game. The 27-year-old out of Baylor is averaging 5.6 points and 7.8 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game.
San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineup
With White out again, the starting lineup is very likely to be Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker IV, DeMar DeRozan, Keldon Johnson and Jakob Poeltl. If Aldridge is able to return from injury, he would take Poeltl’s spot in the starting lineup.
Utah Jazz Starting Lineup
The Jazz have used the same starting lineup all season so far: Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic and O’Neale. If O’Neale can’t go, Joe Ingles is the most likely option to be elevated to the starting five.
Spurs vs. Jazz: How the Spurs Can Win
The Spurs have exhibited signs that their defense is improving this season. Mitchell will be a test to see just how good San Antonio’s defense is at this point of the season. If the Spurs can contain him, they have a chance to end their losing streak. But if Mitchell gets away from them, another loss would likely be in the cards.