Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz Live Stream: Watch Online Friday NBA Action at 10:30 PM ET
The Chicago Bulls have been able to overcome the absence of point guard Derrick Rose this season, but so far their current road trip has been a disappointment, as the Nuggets blew out the team on Thursday. The Bulls will try to recover on Friday night as they travel to EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz.
The Bulls are trying to avoid a third straight loss, but they are facing off against a Jazz team that has been stellar at home, winning 11 of the past 12 contests. Utah has struggled n the road, but has been able to build up their record with a home stand as the season barrels towards the All-Star break.
The Jazz are 19-5 at their home arena after winning 100-6 against Milwaukee on Wednesday, improving to 9-3 in the past 12 games. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap led the way for the Jazz, scoring 19 points each. The team has been stellar on defense lately, keeping opponents to 40 percent shooting over the past four games.
"We're in a good little zone right now," Jefferson said. "We've just got to keep it up. We've got four more games left (before the All-Star break)."
Jefferson has been excellent against the Bulls over the past eight games, averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds. Enes Kanter has been solid over the past week, scoring 17 points in the last game against the Bucks.
"Everybody knows he's mad talented. Everyone knows what he can do," Jefferson said. "Sometimes your body just (doesn't) want to agree with your mind. Sometimes you've just got to fight through it and I think he did that."
The Bulls have been solid on defense this season, but allowed the Nuggets to shoot nearly 60 percent in a 128-96 loss on Thursday, the most points given up by the team since 2010.
"Until we change (our defense), the results aren't going to be good," Thibodeau said. "We're not containing the ball, not challenging shots. That makes it very difficult to win."
The Bulls have won six of the past eight games against the Jazz, including two of three on the road in Utah.
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