Utah Jazz Playoff Watch: Race Tightening as Final Month Approaches
By Ryan Aston
With 12 games remaining on their schedule, the Utah Jazz are in a dogfight with the Trail Blazers, Rockets and Mavs for one of the final three playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Although the Utah Jazz are officially in the homestretch of the Western Conference playoff race, there’s still work left to be done for the team to secure a postseason return. Having said that, the team has a chance to get back into the top eight this week if they can capture some wins on the current road trip.
The Jazz have a huge bout with the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, and a chance to make up a full game on James Harden and Co. With two days of rest before the game, the Jazz should have fresh legs for the contest. With any luck, the ailing Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood will be in better condition to compete for the Jazz.
Here’s your Jazz playoff primer for the week–
6. team. 34. <p><strong>Games Remaining: </strong>11</p><p><strong>Split: </strong>8 home/3 away</p><p><strong>The Skinny: </strong>The Trail Blazers were one of the hottest teams in the NBA at one point, but have now lost three out of their last four games and seven of their last 10. What once seemed improbable–the prospect of the Rockets, Mavs or Jazz catching up with Portland–now looks like a possibility.</p><p>Portland lost to the Mavericks on Sunday, but has a rematch with <strong><a href=. (36-35). . Portland Trail Blazers
. Houston Rockets. 7. team. 169. <p><strong>Games Behind: </strong>½</p><p><strong>Games Remaining: </strong>12</p><p><strong>Split: </strong>7 home/5 away</p><p><strong>The Skinny: </strong>Houston has won six of their last 10 games, but are coming off a loss to the Atlanta Hawks and face a difficult schedule in the days ahead.</p><p>They face back-to-back games beginning with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday followed by the Jazz on Wednesday. The Rockets then go on to face the Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers.</p><p>On the plus side, <strong><a href=. (35-35)
<p><strong>Games Behind: </strong>½</p><p><strong>Games Remaining: </strong>12</p><p><strong>Split: </strong>4 home/8 away</p><p><strong>The Skinny: </strong>The Mavericks have a road-heavy schedule to close out the season, beginning with the rematch against the Blazers on Wednesday.</p><p>After a day off on Thursday, the Mavs have the misfortune of facing the Golden State Warriors in Oakland on Friday. This is followed by a back-to-back road set with the Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets.</p><p>With Dallas having lost seven of its last nine games and its old roster showing its mileage recently, this road trip could make or break the team’s playoff hopes.</p>. (35-35). . Dallas Mavericks. 8. team. 79
Utah Jazz. 9. team. 118. <p><strong>Games Behind: </strong>1½</p><p><strong>Games Remaining: </strong>12</p><p><strong>Split: </strong>6 home/6 away</p><p><strong>The Skinny: </strong>Wednesday night is huge for the Jazz, given the game against the Rockets and the Blazers-Mavs affair. In late February, the Jazz beat the Rockets 117-114 in overtime at Vivint Smart Home Arena. With Hayward battling plantar fasciitis and Hood’s back plaguing him, it could be a different game at the Toyota Center.</p><p>After taking on the Rockets, the Jazz have a quick turn around against the Thunder the next night in Oklahoma City.</p>. (34-36).
That’s the current situation in the Jazz playoff race. CBS Sports discussed Utah’s playoff push in a video feature on Monday–
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