The Utah Jazz need other results to go their way on the final day of the NBA season, but they will be up against it as Kobe Bryant plays his final NBA game. Join The Roar for live scores from 12:30pm (AEST).
It will be an emotional day as Kobe suits up for the final time in his decorated career, but the Jazz will be out to spoil the party and hope for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
With 15 teams across the NBA having qualified for the playoffs, this final spot one has come down to the last day of the season.
The Jazz and Houston Rockets are battling it out, but by the time Utah step on the court, the match in Houston should be over, and if the Rockets win they are through.
Utah and Houston are tied on 40 wins and 41 losses heading into closing day, but Houston won the season series between the sides. That means that if both teams win, or both teams lose, the Rockets advance.
The Jazz have had an incredibly difficult run home, dropping matches against the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks in their last four starts.
The win for the Mavericks qualified them for the finals, and pushed the Jazz behind Houston.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, have only won 16 games all year, and six on the trot coming into the end of the season – their last victory was by two points over the Miami Heat a few weeks ago.
The Jazz have dominated the season series, winning all three games to date. Expect this one to be a lot more open though, with players sure to be sidetracked by the Kobe hype.
Gordon Hayward, especially if the game is open and high scoring, is key. Averaging almost 20 points per game for the year, he is going to need one of his better performances for the Jazz to get over the line.
Prediction
The Lakers will send Bryant out on a high, and the Rockets should advance to the playoffs, with the Jazz unable to fight their way to a victory.
Lakers by 7.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of the match from 12:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
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