Brooklyn Nets vs. Utah Jazz preview: Back-to-back

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – DECEMBER 01: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the second half of a game against the Houston Rockets at Delta Center on December 01, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) Getty Images

That’s two on the board. The Brooklyn Nets were on the road to face the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night and handled business to the tune of a 113-103 victory.

The opponent tonight The Utah Jazz beat the Houston Rockets at home on Monday night and have been off for the past few days.

YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Tip after 7:30 PM.

No Cam Thomas, Haywood Highsmith, or Terrance Mann. Night two of a back-to-back so we’ll see if anyone else sits. Nolan Traore remains in G League but is making progress.

No Walker Kessler, Kevin Love, or Georges Niang. Jusuf Nurkic is questionable.

The Nets are on the second leg of a back-to-back while the Jazz are on the first leg. NBA scheduling, it’s fantastic!

Both these teams are in rebuild mode as they try to get back into respectability and eventually contention. I came across a terrific quote from James Hansen of SLC Dunk that I think applies to both squads:

Yes, we’d all like to snap our fingers and be a championship-contending team. But the NBA is an equalizer. The money doesn’t separate you here. Talent, determination, patience, and grit get you to the top. If you are willing to make the sacrifices necessary, you can find that elite talent that will drive you to championship contention for years on end.

The road back to contention is a long one, but when you eventually get there, all the pain will be worth it.

The sign of a player that’s truly impacting the game is when they’re able to contribute in multiple areas. That’s been the story of Michael Porter Jr over the past few weeks, and Jordi Fernandez shouted that out in postgame last night:

“Five assists, I know the turnovers right there, but the line is incredible. Led us in rebounding…He’s chasing drives, he’s rebounding, he’s engaged. I’m very happy to see the growth that I see. I believe he’ll still keep growing, because he’s having fun and he’s engaged.”

All anyone wants is good effort every game. That’s what MPJ has done for much of the season and you’re starting to see the results in a special way. If he keeps it up, maybe he’ll earn a spot in this year’s All Star Game.

With no Love and a less than 100 percent Nurkic, a lot will be on the shoulders of Kyle Filipowski. He leads the current roster in fouls per 36 minutes, and if he gets into foul trouble tonight, it will spell big trouble for Utah. The Jazz are 27th in defensive rating on the season, and over the last five games, they’re allowing 118.3 points per 100 possessions. On the season, the Nets are 28th in defensive rating, but they’ve been a top ten defense in terms of efficiency rating in the past five games. It looks like the Nets are much engaged and coordinated on that end, and it’s baring itself out in the numbers as well.

Player to watch: Lauri Markkanen

Every year, there are rumors about Markkanen being on the trade market. And every year, nothing happens with him and he remains in Utah. When Utah does return to the playoffs, Markkanen will play a big part in that. I just realized he’s never played in the playoffs, but when you look at the teams he’s been on, it makes sense. Either way, a seven footer that can score at all three levels, serve as the lead option on offense, and take over a game is mighty valuable. At 28 years old (a year older than MPJ,) Lauri has a lot of good basketball ahead of him. We’ll see if it’ll be good enough to bring Utah to the playoffs.

Noah Clowney, get ready for a big time challenge. The kid filled up the stat sheet once again to the tune of 20/7/2 in 34 minutes. Over the last five, he’s at 18/4/3 and shooting 19-of-40 from deep. At just 21 years old, Noah has a lot of good hoops ahead of him. We’ve seen the coaching staff develop more and more trust in him as the season has progressed, and he’s rewarded their confidence in him. This matchup will be a great test of his early success, and if he’s able to help slow Markkanen down, it will give him another boost of confidence he can take into the post NBA Cup portion of the season.

“You gotta believe, I think like an artist
But my bills through the roof – can’t do numbers like The Roots
No disrespect, I be trying to disconnect…“