(Photograph credit score: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Photos)
Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy discovered a glimmer of hope after his crew’s 106-94 residence loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday evening.
His crew, which is able to host the Los Angeles Lakers in Salt Lake Metropolis on Sunday evening, has misplaced three video games in a row and 7 of its final eight. However Hardy preferred elements of what he noticed within the double-digit loss to a Dallas crew enjoying with out Luka Doncic (sprained wrist).
“Tonight is an ideal instance of the distinction between enjoying dangerous and taking pictures dangerous,” Hardy mentioned. “If the competitiveness, the togetherness, the vitality and the struggle are at this degree each evening, there are numerous good issues to return in Utah.”
To the Jazz’s credit score, they made it a aggressive sport after falling behind the Mavericks by 20 factors within the first half. Regardless of a troublesome taking pictures evening, Utah pulled inside three factors within the third quarter and was inside attain within the fourth.
Utah ended up taking pictures 35.8 p.c from the sector whereas hitting 23.1 p.c of its 3-pointers.
Lauri Markkanen scored a team-high 19 factors however made simply 7 of 20 photographs from the ground, together with 2 of 11 from past the arc. Walker Kessler made 7 of 9 photographs whereas ending with 18 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks and three steals, however the different three gamers in double figures — John Collins, Collin Sexton and Brice Sensabaugh — shot a mixed 15 for 40. . from the bottom.
“In all probability my favourite play of the yr. We could not throw the ball within the ocean,” Hardy mentioned. … “(However) we guarded properly sufficient to win the sport. We competed properly sufficient to win the sport. We simply did not shoot properly sufficient to win the sport.”
The Jazz shot significantly better of their final sport in opposition to the Lakers, a 124-118 victory over Los Angeles on November 19.
Sadly for Utah, the Lakers made 55.3% of their photographs on this victory. Dalton Knecht made 12 of 16 – together with 9 of 12 from 3-point vary – for a game-high 37 factors. LeBron James and Anthony Davis every scored 26 factors on a mixed 19-of-32 taking pictures from the ground.
Knecht scored a team-high 20 factors within the Lakers’ 101-93 loss to the visiting Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Friday evening.
“There have been a half-dozen to a dozen performs that shot us within the foot earlier than the sport was even over,” Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned. “We performed properly sufficient and robust sufficient to win in opposition to the perfect crew within the West. So there are undoubtedly some good issues.”
Los Angeles comes into this sport having misplaced 4 of 5 video games.
Redick preferred his crew’s protection in opposition to the Thunder. The Lakers trailed by only one level earlier than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a 3-pointer with 1:35 left.
“It was as linked as our group has been on that facet of the ground because the first sport of the season,” Redick mentioned. “, it’s a very outstanding piece of labor with numerous the issues we’ve talked about.”
This will probably be Utah’s second consecutive residency in lower than every week. Utah was upset by San Antonio 128-115 on Tuesday, then obtained tripped up by Denver 122-103 on Wednesday evening.
–Subject degree media
