Utah Jazz (45-28, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (37-36, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Charlotte, North Carolina; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Donovan Mitchell leads Utah into a matchup with Charlotte. He ranks ninth in the NBA averaging 26.2 points per game.
The Hornets have gone 19-18 in home games. Charlotte is fifth in the Eastern Conference in rebounding with 44.8 rebounds. Mason Plumlee paces the Hornets with 8.0 boards.
The Jazz are 19-17 in road games. Utah scores 113.7 points while outscoring opponents by 6.1 points per game.
The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Jazz defeated the Hornets 112-102 in their last meeting on Dec. 21. Rudy Gobert led the Jazz with 23 points, and LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 21 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Ball is averaging 19.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.5 steals for the Hornets. Terry Rozier is averaging 22.8 points over the last 10 games for Charlotte.
Mitchell is scoring 26.2 points per game and averaging 4.2 rebounds for the Jazz. Jordan Clarkson is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Utah.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 7-3, averaging 119.7 points, 42.6 rebounds, 30.2 assists, 8.7 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.6 points per game.
Jazz: 5-5, averaging 113.0 points, 47.3 rebounds, 21.2 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points.
INJURIES: Hornets: Gordon Hayward: out (ankle).
Jazz: Udoka Azubuike: out (ankle), Danuel House Jr.: out (knee), Bojan Bogdanovic: out (calf).
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