Game Thread: Raptors vs. Jazz updates, TV info, and more

The Raptors have strung together three consecutive wins on the road, but tonight seems likely to represent their toughest challenge. They’re heading to altitude to match up against a surging Jazz team on the second night of a back-to-back. The four days off that they’ll get after tonight’s contest will certainly be needed.

Of course, as resilient as this team is, we can’t just mark this one down as a schedule loss and leave it at that, especially not with how hot some members of the Raptors have gotten as of late. They’ll be without recent returnee Marc Gasol once more, and will also be missing Fred VanVleet again, but Norman Powell has gone inferno in VanVleet’s absence, averaging over 30 points per game this past week, and winning Eastern Conference Player of the Week in the process. Kyle Lowry has been hot too, shooting an even 40% from deep and averaging over 25 points per game throughout the road trip.

Utah’s offense has seen an uptick throughout their current five-game winning streak, meanwhile, largely due to some signs of life from Mike Conley. The Jazz’s big offseason acquisition has had an altogether disappointing year, seeing a precipitous drop in his finishing numbers that’s par for the course for older guards as they age. This past week has seen him play closer to the steady level that he exhibited for so many years in Memphis, averaging 17 points per game and shooting 50% from the field and over 40% from deep.

Can the Raptors keep their momentum going? Or will they face the music against the Jazz? Let’s watch.

Where to Watch:

TSN at 9 p.m. EST

Lineups:

Toronto – Kyle Lowry, Norman Powell, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka

Utah – Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Royce O’Neale, Bojan Bogdanovic, Rudy Gobert

Injuries:

Toronto – Fred VanVleet (out – shoulder), Dewan Hernandez (out – ankle), Marc Gasol (out - rest)

Utah – Nigel Williams-Goss (out – quadriceps)