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 The Jazz are opening up a three-game road trip with the Bulls and
fell short in a 105-101 loss to Indiana on Monday after erasing most
of a 12-point fourth quarter deficit. Derrick Favors put up 27
points and 11 rebounds in the loss and combines with Rudy Gobert and
Enes Kanter in an emerging frontcourt that could give Gasol and
Joakim Noah some trouble. Gasol averaged 28 points and 15 rebounds
against the lesser frontlines of Houston and Boston in the last two
games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ROOT (Utah), CSN Chicago
 ABOUT THE JAZZ (12-23): Gobert got the start alongside Favors on
Monday while Kanter battled an ankle injury like to keep him out
Wednesday as well and blocked three shots, giving him 13 in the last
three games. “Rudy’s been playing well,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder told
the team’s website. “I don’t think anybody’s surprised with the
things he’s been doing. He’s played well at times throughout the
season, but recently he’s had more of an opportunity to play.”
Gobert only played 14 minutes in a 97-95 home loss to Chicago on
Nov. 24 but managed a pair of blocked shots.
ABOUT THE BULLS (25-10): Gasol’s addition and Butler’s emergence
along with the healthy return of Derrick Rose to the lineup gives
Chicago three players capable of putting up 20-plus points every
night, and the team has worked its way into the top 10 in the league
in scoring average. “You also need to be able to score and this
definitely is the best offensive team that I’ve been a part of in my
NBA career,” Noah told reporters after the 114-105 win over Houston
on Monday. “But you need to be able to play defense in this league
if you what to win big. We showed some pretty good defense,
especially down the stretch.”
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BUZZER BEATERS
1. Rose is shooting 26.3 percent from the field over the last five
games and is day-to-day with a hip injury.
2. Utah G Trey Burke (illness) is day-to-day.
3. Chicago has taken seven of the last eight in the series,
including four in a row at home.
PREDICTION: Bulls 108, Jazz 98
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