Utah Jazz vs Perth Wildcats: NBLxNBA highlights, live scores, blog

The best chance of an NBL team pulling off an upset may come in the form of the Perth Wildcats as they take on the Utah Jazz in the second NBLxNBA match this pre-season. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 11am (AEST).

It feels like everyone has been sleeping on the Wildcats in the lead-up to the NBL season.

While the Sydney Kings and Melbourne United have dominated the championship discussion, the most successful club in the league’s history will be out in force and trying to do what they have done so often once again.

Perth will be undermanned heading to the States though, with Angus Brandt recently being injured playing for Australia in the World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan in Bendigo.

The injury means Rudy Gobert could have a field day in the paint. He is one of the elite big men in the NBA, and it would have been a good challenge for Brandt, who has come on in leaps and bounds since leaving the Kings.

Where the Wildcats will win, if they were to have a chance, is on the perimeter. Bryce Cotton is one of the cleanest sharp-shooters in the league, while Damian Martin and Terrico White’s ability to ball handle and pass will come under the microscope. Jesse Wagstaff stretching the floor and using his shooting range off the pine will also be crucial.

On the other side of the court, the two names to watch from an Australian perspective will be Dante Exum and Joe Ingles, who are both in for big seasons after Utah made the conference semi-finals in the west during 2017-18.

Ingles was outstanding last year, and alongside Donovan Mitchell, Gobert and Ricky Rubio at the point, they were a very difficult group to guard.

The shooting of Ingles saw him shoot to fame at times, but the Jazz are going to need to be mindful of Martin on the Wildcats side, with the guard one of the best defenders in the history of Australian basketball, having won defensive player of the year on six occasions.

Prediction
While the Wildcats have a good chance to making something happen here, the Jazz should be too good down the stretch and take a close victory.

Jazz by 6.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the second NBLxNBA match this pre-season from 9am (AEST) and don’t forget to get involved by dropping a comment in the section below.

Gameinfo

Tip-off: 11am (AEST)
Venue: Vivint Smart Homes Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
TV: Live, ESPN
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, WatchESPN, NBA League Pass, delay NBL.TV
Betting: Jazz $1.01, Wildcats $19

Utah Jazz (expected)
Point guard: Ricky Rubio
Shooting guard: Donovan Mitchell
Small forward: Joe Ingles
Power forward: Derrick Favors
Centre: Rudy Gobert
Bench: Grayson Allen, Tony Bradley, Alex Burks, Jae Crowder, Dante Exum, Isaac Haas, Trey Lewis, Jairus Lyles, Raul Neto, Georges Niang, Ekpe Udoh

Perth Wildcats (expected)
Point guard: Damian Martin
Shooting guard: Bryce Cotton
Small forward: Terrico White
Power forward: Clint Steindl
Centre: Tom Jervis
Bench: Lochlan Cummings, Nick Kay, Greg Hire, Mitch Norton, Jesse Wagstaff, Rhys Vague, Bryan Michaels

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Scott Pryde

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Scott has penned over 3000 articles and is one of The Roar's longest-serving writers, covering a wide range of sports. When he isn't writing about sport, you'll find him umpiring at the cricket, or on the hill at Kogarah supporting the Dragons.