Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW
Utah Jazz vs Perth Wildcats |
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NBLxNBA, Game 2. Time: Fulltime. |
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| Vivint Smart Homes Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah | ||
| Utah Jazz | Perth Wildcats | |
| 130 | SCORE | 72 |
| 44 | Q1 | 13 |
| 31 | Q2 | 21 |
| 25 | Q3 | 11 |
| 30 | Q4 | 27 |
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.
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
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me today for our live coverage of this one. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back tomorrow at 11:30am (AEST) for the Sydney Kings and Los Angeles Clippers. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers? Can Perth be any better when they face Denver Saturday?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Well, that's the end of that. An absolute drubbing from Utah in the end. Perth managed to get into the game during the final quarters of the game after being blown out of the water during the first one, but they will be better in Denver next weekend for the run. Utah are in for a huge season though. They will go deep in the playoffs, no doubt about it. Jazz - 128 Wildcats - 67
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Into the final minute. Timeout Perth. Jazz - 128 Wildcats - 67
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Misses at both ends, then it's Long out to Niang and he sinks the three, taking the lead to 61. Jazz - 128 Wildcats - 67
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Vague to the free throw line and he makes one. Jazz - 125 Wildcats - 67
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' A three now for Niang. Jazz - 125 Wildcats - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Utah with a bucket after the timeout, then it's Vague with a missed three. Long offensive rebound, before Vague misses again. Jazz - 122 Wildcats - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Timeout. Jazz - 120 Wildcats - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Grayson Allen, the rookie back out there. He misses this time, then Perth to the same through Steindl. Jazz - 120 Wildcats - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Bradley having his way in the lane right now, dropping another in off the rim, before Norton goes to Vague and he tries again, but that three is no good. Jazz - 120 Wildcats - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Bradley with a shot from close range, then Kay is pinged for a travel. Jazz - 118 Wildcats - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Utah with a shot clock violation, then Vague puts up his second three in a row! Great work on the catch and shoot. Jazz - 116 Wildcats - 66
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Kay makes both. Jazz - 116 Wildcats - 63
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Niang baseline now He misses, the put back misses and then Bradley manages to get a tip in. Bradley now pushes Kay and he will go to the line. Jazz - 116 Wildcats - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' White into the lane this time. He is fouled by Niang. From the inbound it's Vague with a contested three. Jazz - 114 Wildcats - 61
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Cotton with a three-point play here. Jazz - 114 Wildcats - 58
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Some better defence in the last minute or so here from Perth. They get another stop here after a fast break of their own. Jazz - 114 Wildcats - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 8' Timeout on the floor. Jazz - 110 Wildcats - 51
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 8' Perth with an offensive foul here. Back to the other end and it's Exum with a lovely bounce pass to Udoh who slams it home. Poor defence down low that time. Jazz - 110 Wildcats - 51