Memphis has an inside route through Edey and Boozer, with Jerome setting the first actions. Utah can answer through George, Peterson and Markkanen, then use Jackson's help and its reserve scorers. The game should shift with the center rotations and with each team's ability to finish a defensive rebound after a lead changes.
Edey can test Hayes on the glass, but his recent minutes rose gradually and Post's minutes move Memphis's center attack toward the perimeter. Utah's Hayes, Jackson and Filipowski all played in the last exhibition, while Nurkic remains out; Memphis's Stewart missed its finale and is doubtful. Against Phoenix, Utah found several scorers and a late answer even while conceding many extra shots.
Memphis can build an early paint advantage, then Utah's spread creation and repeated scoring answers can change the middle and closing stretches. That's why I'm siding with the Utah Jazz to win.
