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SALT LAKE CITY — First of all understand, even though Jazz have won 3 in a row on the road for the first time in more than 2 years, Memphis is a nasty, tough defensive team. Jazz have lost 6 of their last 7 games in Memphis and the Grizzles must win to keep pressure on the Clippers. Those teams will meet in a first round playoff series, if Memphis wins tonight, the the Clippers MUST win in Sacramento late tonight or the Grizzlies get homecourt advantage. So Memphis has plenty to play for !
Back to the Jazz, if they find a way to beat the Grizzlies tonight in Memphis, they'll be on their charter flight back to SLC while the Lakers host Houston for the 7th and /or the 8th playoff spot. Regardless of what happens in Memphis, Houston and LA are playing to a avoid a first round playoff matchup with West top seed and defending Western Conference champion Oklahoma City.
If LA wins they not only make the playoffs but the Kobe-less Lakers will jump the Rockets into the 7th spot, thereby getting a more manageable matchup with the West's No. 2 seed San Antonio, a great team earlier in the season but limping into the playoffs with lots of losses and injuries to key players like Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker. Course that will also be Houston's motivation! Avoid OKC, get a matchup with the old and beaten down Spurs in the first round .
Figures to be a wild night and if the Jazz win, it will be tense right up to near 11 p.m. when the Lakers/Rockets game ends.
Hopefully the Jazz will be back here late tonight, starting to drill-down on a very talented Thunder team, Jazz lost 3 of 4 to OKC during the season.
We'll have all the Jazz highlights, post game reaction and if it still matters, an update on the Lakers/Rockets game tonight on #KSL News at 10!
