Raptors Take On Jazz

The Toronto Raptors and the Utah Jazz are two teams in very different positions. The Raptors sit atop the Eastern Conference, while the Utah Jazz are seemingly out of the race before it really even starts, having won only five games this season.

Tonight the riding-high Raptors will attempt to keep finding ways to win without DeMar DeRozan while the Jazz will look to avoid their seventh consecutive loss.

The Jazz have been limited to an average of 92.7 points a game since they have started their slump. The Jazz did recover from a 22-point deficit to tie the game in the final minutes of the game against the Denver Nuggets in their last outing. However, they still feel 103-101.

If the Jazz could play like the team that rallied from from 25 points behind, they would never been in those huge holes to begin with. However, that remains to be seen as Utah struggles with consistency issues.

The first-place Raptors are down one star player in DeRozan who is out with a torn adductor tendon. The Raptors lost to the LA Lakers on Sunday without DeRozan, but semingly began to adjust to his absence by defeating the Sacramento Kings on the road.

The Jazz have lost to Toronto over their last three meeting by an average of 19 points. The Raptors are the 4-point favorites to win this one. The total is set at 202 points.

The game starts at 9:05 p.m. ET and you can keep up with the game on NBA LP.