Wizards 30-40 vs Jazz 40-29
When: Monday, March 18th, at 7 p.m.
Where: Capital One Arena in Washington D.C.
TV: NBCSWA, ATTSN-RM / Radio: 1500 AM, 97.5 FM/ 1280 AM The Zone
Injury
Wizards: Dwight Howard (Day to Day/ Back), John Wall (Out for the season/ Haglund’s deformity and chronic Achilles tendon injury)
Jazz: Dante Exum (Out/ Torn Patellar Tendon in right knee), Thabo Sefolosha (Day to Day/ Left Hamstring)
Wizards -
114.6 - points per game
116.9 - points against
47.1 - Field goal %
Jazz -
110.1 - points per game
106.4 - points against
46.0 - field goal %
Keep an eye on:
Donovan Mitchell: 38 points against Memphis, 25 points against OKC, 26 points (16 in the 4th) in Phoenix and 24 point performances in wins over Minnesota and Brooklyn. Mitchell comes to DC having been on a terror as they fight to hold on to a playoff position. Mitchell, who is averaging 23.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assist, will be motivated to battle a equally if not more hot Bradley Beal tonight. When it comes to Utah, things start and end with Mitchell so look out for Washington to throw multiple defenders at Mitchell to attempt to slow him down.
Scoring Efficiency Inside: Utah ranks 15th in field goal percentage (46%) and 8th in two-point field goal percentage (53%) and you can thank their bigs for that high level of efficiency. The Jazz have seven players shooting 46 percent or better from the field this season, with center Rudy Gobert (65%) and forward Derrick Favors (57%) handling the heavy scoring efficiency load inside. Washington’s interior defense has to be there throughout the game if the Wizards have any hopes of winning and continuing to push for a playoff spot.