THE Utah Jazz started the preseason with its first sport towards an NBA opponent, a 122-113 victory over the Houston Rockets. It was a story of two completely different halves for the Jazz. The Rockets took benefit of a gradual begin from the Jazz and took a 22-12 lead after the primary quarter of play, due to some chilly capturing from the Jazz.
After a quicker second quarter, the Rockets appeared to regulate the competition, however the Jazz appeared like a special workforce within the second half. Markkanen led a balanced Jazz assault with eight factors within the third quarter, and the Jazz outscored the Rockets 39-22 within the third quarter to take an 88-84 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Within the last quarter, the Jazz gained in a match in the end determined by the reserves. Utah outscored the Rockets 34-29 within the last interval to seal the victory. Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 17 factors, whereas Jordan Clarkson scored 14. Johnny Juzang had a robust follow-up efficiency to his first preseason sport by scoring 12 factors in simply 12 minutes of motion.
Some Jazz gamers shone, and one other much less so. Let’s check out the winners and losers from Utah’s victory.
Sophomore Jazzman Taylor Hendricks stood out for Utah. The 2023 lottery choose scored an environment friendly 10 factors on 4-of-6 capturing from the sector whereas pulling down a number of three-point pictures. Hendricks seems to have a agency grip on the beginning energy ahead place and can look to construct on a rookie yr that has had its ups and downs.
Hendricks’ path to incomes extra minutes on the court docket can be on the defensive aspect of the court docket. Utah wants a participant who can provide the opposing workforce’s high wing extra resistance than Jazz groups have had prior to now. It will likely be a trial by hearth for Hendricks this yr as he can be known as upon to protect one of the best gamers within the league. How he develops defensively can be one thing to look at.
Utah’s longest-serving participant, Jordan Clarkson, additionally had efficiency with 14 factors in 18 minutes. The Jazz entrance workplace would admire begin for Clarkson.
The previous Sixth Man of the 12 months is rumored to be on the buying and selling block, however he might want to outperform final yr to rebuild his commerce inventory to a stage that justifies his contract. The higher Clarkson performs, the extra seemingly it’s that this can be his final season in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Utah’s high choose within the 2024 draft appeared out of kinds in his first preseason motion towards an NBA opponent. It is just one match, however Williams struggled to ascertain himself within the motion. Williams logged a complete of 27 minutes and solely had factors on three free throws.
It is just one match, and you may’t learn an excessive amount of into his efficiency. Moreover, not like final yr, Jazz rookies will more than likely log their minutes on the NBA stage slightly than within the G-League.
Utah’s subsequent sport can be its first highway sport towards the Dallas Mavericks THURSDAY. Tip-off is at 6:00 p.m. MT.
