5 Things To Know

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Ryan Kostecka

After breaking their 13-game losing streak just 24 hours ago, the Jazz had an opportunity to start a new one on Friday night against the Clippers. Behind another impressive showing of depth, six players in double figures led Utah to another comeback victory, taking down the Clippers 110-109.&nbsp;

Obviously the Clippers pulled the plug at some point on some of their starters. … But we’ve got a lot of young players on the court too,” head coach Will Hardy said. “Nobody has made any excuses for us when we’ve lost. … It’s an opportunity to go out and get a win. You play who is on the floor, and you play as hard as you can. … Our team on the second night of a back-to-back, I was really proud of them.”

Here are five things to know following the win

1.) Another ComebackAfter giving up 38 points to the Rockets and trailing by double digits at the end of one, Friday’s script was eerily similar. The Jazz gave up 38 points to the Clippers and trailed by 10 after the opening 12 minutes. 

But from that point on, the Jazz never lost another quarter. They responded by flipping the script in the second quarter, outscoring LA 34-22 as Kenny Lofton Jr. got cooking. He dropped 13 points over the final five minutes of the half, including a 5-of-5 showing from the free throw line.&nbsp;

Utah then played the Clippers to a tie in the second half, using a late run in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. Following a 7-2 run that gave the Clippers a one-point lead with 3:11 remaining, the Jazz took control with a quick 6-0 run. Keyonte George got things going with a deep three from the top before Lofton’s and-one sealed the win.&nbsp;

“These are guys who have not been playing a ton of heavy minutes (for us), so the back-to-back isn’t used to what they’re feeling. … But I thought everybody who went into the game tonight aided in the win,” Hardy said.

2.) Kenny is KraftySince he joined the team late in the season, Jazz Nation has been lobbying for more minutes for Lofton Jr — and he answered with one of the best games of his young career Friday night in LA. 

He came dangerously close to posting Utah’s second triple-double of the season, finishing with 27 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in 35 minutes. He finished 10-of-16 from the floor and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line. Although he struggled from beyond the arc, Lofton’s blend of size, footwork, and vision was too much for the Clippers.

It was the second-highest scoring game of his NBA career.&nbsp;

3.) Team DepthBesides Lofton’s 27, five other Jazz players finished in double figures — three starters and two off the bench. George hit some big shots down the stretch to finish with 14, while Johnny Juzang and Luka Šamanić chipped in 12 and 11, respectively. Darius Bazley and Talen Horton-Tucker each scored 12 points off the bench, with Bazley adding five rebounds and Horton-Tucker chipping in four assists. Ömer Yurtseven finished with 10 rebounds.

Although the Jazz struggled from deep (6-for-35, 17.1%), they were aggressive elsewhere. They finished 35-for-53 from the floor, with Taylor Hendricks, Juzang, and Bazley combining to shoot 12-for-18.

“Proud of the guys,” Hardy said. “It’s hard to win back-to-back nights. We’ve struggled on the road this season. We played very hard for the second night in a row. … Imperfect at times, turnovers at times that were not ideal, but to go into the game on the road and shoot 6-for-35 from three and still win. … It speaks to the tenacity of the team tonight.”

4.) George Climbs the Record BooksFollowing his three-pointer with 2:25 left in the fourth quarter, which gave the Jazz the lead for good, George continued to climb the Utah record books. 

He finished 2-of-7 from beyond the arc, marking the 36th game this season in which he’s hit two or more threes in a game. He now sits second all-time for such games in a rookie season, behind Donovan Mitchell’s franchise record 53 games.

In contention for all-rookie honors, George continues to up his game late in the season. He has finished in double figures the past four games, averaging 17.3 points during that span.&nbsp;&nbsp;

5.) One MoreThe Jazz will look to end their season on a three-game winning streak when they close the year in the Bay Area against the Warriors. With Golden State still battling for postseason positioning, there’s a good chance that Utah’s young players will be facing Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and co. in a game that means a great deal. 

Utah has won the last two games behind the strength of its bench. On Thursday, they scored 57 against Houston before dropping 52 in the win over the Clippers. Another performance will be needed to take down the Warriors.&nbsp;

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"Winning Sure Beats Losing" — 5 Things to Know Following Utah's Victory Over the LA Clippers

Heading into the final home game of the season, Utah head coach Will Hardy wanted to give Jazz Nation one last night of joy.&nbsp;

Despite trailing at the half, the shorthanded Jazz delivered one final inspiring performance on Thursday night, taking down Houston 124-121. With the win, the Jazz end the season with a home record of 21-20. 

“I’m really proud of the team. … They deserved that win,” Hardy said postgame. “It’s been a hard couple of weeks. … They haven’t pointed fingers or folded mentally or emotionally. They just kept going, and that showed tonight with just the desperation the team was playing with.”&nbsp;

“They dug in and deserved to win,” he added. “Playing perfect and playing pretty is not necessarily important to me. … I don’t think that’s who we need to be in order to win. If you play imperfect but if you play that hard every night, I feel that more good will happen than bad.”

Here are five things to know following the win.&nbsp;

1.) Streak is BrokenIt’s safe to say the last month hasn’t been kind to the Jazz. 

Following the trade deadline that saw three rotational players sent out and injuries taking their toll against the starting lineup, Utah went from a team on the fringes of play-in contention to one staring at a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft. The Jazz had lost 13 consecutive games heading into Thursday’s home finale against the Rockets. 

Behind a team effort that saw seven players finish in double figures, Utah stormed back from a double-digit deficit after the first quarter to lead by two entering the final 12 minutes. From there, the teams went back and forth before a late 8-2 Jazz run in the final minutes decided the outcome.

Utah’s bench was vital, outscoring the Rockets 57-46. Brice Sensabaugh led the way with 17 points, Kenny Lofton Jr. added 14, and Talen Horton-Tucker chipped in 16. Lofton Jr. was particularly effective off the bench, adding nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals in 27 minutes. 

2.) Rebounding BattleOne of the determining factors for Thursday’s game was who would win the rebounding battle. Both teams rank in the top four in rebounds per game—Jazz third (45.4 rpg), Houston fourth (45.3 rpg). 

Utah dominated the glass, outrebounding the Rockets 49-39. Eight players grabbed at least four rebounds, led by Lofton Jr.’s nine and Darius Bazley’s seven. What made the performance even more impressive from a Jazz perspective is that they were down their top three rebounders; John Collins, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler. That trio combines for 24.2 rebounds per game, nearly half of Utah’s total on a nightly basis. 

3.) Šamanić ShinesAs mentioned above, the Jazz were severely depleted on Thursday. Their top four scorers were all in street clothes on the bench, which meant somebody would have to step up and take the reins as the primary option. 

With Keyonte George running the offense, Luka Šamanić became the primary beneficiary. Thrust into the starting lineup amidst the injuries, Šamanić finished with a season-high 22 points (one off his career-best set last year). He finished 7-of-17 from the field but made a living at the free throw line, where he finished 7-for-9. He also added six rebounds and two assists, finishing with a +6 rating in 34 minutes. 

Even more impressive was that Šamanić did most of his damage when defended by Dillon Brooks. Regarded as one of the best individual defenders in the league, Brooks had no answer for Šamanić’s combination of length and athleticism. 

4.) Rookies Keep ShiningDespite going through a tough time as a team, one of the positives has been the development of Utah’s trio of rookies: George, Sensabuagh, and Taylor Hendricks — and Thursday night was more of the same. 

George finished with 20 points, five assists, four rebounds, and two steals while shooting 7-for-14 from the field. Most impressively, George continues to show growth in his command of the offense as he took control in the second half. Sensabaugh is an impressive scorer off the bench, recording double digits for the fourth time in six games. While Hendricks may not have the points to back up his play, he does all of the little things that don’t show up in the box score yet they contribute to winning basketball. He finished with five points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. 

5.) Fan AppreciationOne of the most complicated relationships in sports is between a team and its fanbase. In a world where instant gratification is necessary, and patience is deemed weak, that relationship is often frail, just waiting to erupt at any sign of discomfort. 

That’s not the case for Jazz Nation.&nbsp;

On the back of 292 consecutive sellouts, Jazz Nation helped Utah to its victory over the Rockets. The win gave the Jazz a 21-20 home record this season, marking the 10th consecutive season with a winning record at home. 

“We value this building, we love the opportunity to play here,” Hardy said. “We want this to be a place that visiting teams don’t want to come to. … The fans are a huge part of that. We always want to try and protect our home floor. … It is a source of pride that we ended the season with a winning record at home.”

“I thought the team deserved this, I thought the fanbase deserved this,” he added. “There aren’t a lot of fanbases who would have had that presence tonight on a 13-game losing streak and already eliminated from the postseason. … I feel like everyone in Jazz Nation wanted this tonight."

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"Deserved to Win" — 5 Things to Know Following Utah's Victory Over Houston

On a night when the Jazz honored the past, it was the future that got the job done.&nbsp;

Led by a sterling performance from Keyonte George and multiple career-highs from Utah's younger players, the Jazz split the season series with Quin Snyder's Hawks by taking down Atlanta 124-122 on Friday night.

"Really happy with the team's effort," head coach Will Hardy said postgame. "Obviously another night where we got a lot of different faces, different lineups, a lot of young players playing together. To come out of the game with six guys in double figures, a lot of guys contributed. … I'm just happy with the way the team is showing some resilience, not complaining and not making excuses."

Here are five things to know following the win.

1.) Defense Gets it DoneAfter taking an eight-point lead following a George bucket with just under two minutes remaining, the Jazz appeared to be in control down the stretch. But Dejounte Murray showed why he's one of the game's clutch guards, answering for Atlanta with back-to-back threes to cut Utah's lead to two with 1:18 to go. 

While Utah's woes continued on the offensive end, as they remained scoreless the rest of the way, their defense stepped up when it mattered most.&nbsp;

The Jazz locked down on that end of the court, forcing the Hawks to go 0-for-3 from the field in the final minute. They forced Murray into two contested threes, both of which missed badly. Then, on the final possession, Utah doubled Murray to get the ball out of his hands, forcing a crosscourt pass to Vit Krejci. The Jazz rotated well, forcing Krejci to launch a contested three at the buzzer that also missed.&nbsp;

"Our communication is being tested very much in those moments in lineups that have never played together. … I'm really happy to come away with this win," Hardy said.

2.) Rookie NightSince many NBA analysts predicted that Utah emerged as big winners following the 2023 NBA Draft, Jazz Nation had been clamoring to see its three rookies—all first-round picks—get time together on the court. 

Those fans got their wish and then some on Friday night as Taylor Hendricks, George, and Brice Sensabaugh all started against Atlanta. It was the first time this season the Jazz started the three rookies, who played alongside John Collins and Collin Sexton.&nbsp;

George, one of this season's breakout rookies, continued to shine with 25 points, five assists, and four rebounds. He was dominant in the third quarter, helping the Jazz take a two-point lead heading into the final 12 minutes. Although he struggled offensively,&nbsp;

Hendricks did everything else well when he finished with 10 rebounds and three blocks in his first game back since injury. Sensabaugh overcame a slow start to find his rhythm on offense and finished with 14 points.

"With Keyonte and Brice, they exude a lot of confidence in themselves," Hardy said. "They have the utmost belief in their ability, and now those two are developing a pretty good chemistry on the court."&nbsp;

3.) Collins Faces HawksAfter struggling in his return to Atlanta two weeks ago, John Collins put together a much better showing against his former squad on Friday night. 

He started the game with a bang, scoring Utah's first five points. He remained steady throughout, finishing with 18 points and 11 rebounds for his team-high 22nd double-double of the season. He shot 7-of-10 from the field and 2-of-2 from three.&nbsp;

Collins has been on a tear since that game in Atlanta on Feb. 27. He's averaging 18 points and 9.4 rebounds on 58.9% shooting from the floor, posting four double-doubles in those seven games.

4.) Snyder's HomecomingAfter spending eight seasons as the Jazz's head coach, Snyder returned to Salt Lake City on Friday night—although this time, he sat on the bench opposite the Jazz. Announced during pregame, the organization welcomed Snyder back with a tribute video, while Jazz Nation gave him a nice round of applause. 

Throughout those eight years at the helm, Snyder transformed a Jazz team that won just 25 games the year before into one that reached the postseason six straight years.&nbsp;

First establishing Utah as a dominant defensive team, Snyder elevated the Jazz to one of the top offenses in the league over his final few seasons — a feat that doesn't deserve enough credit. Snyder went 372-264 with the Jazz, amassing a .585 winning percentage — the second-winningest coach in Utah history behind Hall of Fame Jerry Sloan.

Among the highlights was Snyder finishing as the runner-up in NBA Coach of the Year voting during the 2017-18 season. He was also named the Western Conference Coach of the Month four times throughout his career. His best season was during the Covid-shortened year of 2020-21, leading the Jazz to the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs after a 52-20 record, the best in the NBA. He served as the head coach of Team LeBron during the 2021 NBA All-Star game.

5.) Interesting RotationWith injuries beginning to take their toll as Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, and Kris Dunn all missed Friday's game, Hardy had no choice but to find other options to eat up minutes. Not only did he start the three rookies, but Hardy also found a way to get his three two-way players into the game early on. Big man Micah Potter was the first Jazzman off the bench, while Johnny Juzang and Jason Preston followed shortly afterward as they all got first-quarter minutes. 

Juzang was hot to start the game, scoring nine points in his first stint. He later hit a big three-pointer from the corner as the Jazz opened a 10-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. He finished with 19 points and five made threes, both career highs. 

Potter also dropped a career-high in points, doing so in impressive fashion when his four-point play early in the fourth quarter gave him 11 points. Although Preston didn't score like the other two, he gave Hardy key minutes at point guard, allowing the team to be fresh down the stretch. 

"Johnny and Micah, that's the product of a year and a half of really hard work and staying ready," Hardy said. "Although they haven't got a ton of opportunity, they've gotten a lot of minutes in the G-League, and they've done everything and more in terms of what we've asked them to do."

"They're both really good basketball players. … I'm really happy for those two guys. We see the work they put in every day, so to have them come out in a game and produce and help us win. … That's big for them."

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"Young Players Playing Together" — 5 Things to Know Following Utah's Win Over Atlanta

Another game in the clutch. Another Jazz victory.&nbsp;

When it mattered most, the Jazz rose to the occasion on both ends of the court. Utah ended the game on a 12-4 run to take down the Western Conference’s top seed, securing the 124-117 victory over Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. With the win, the Jazz stayed in the final spot in the play-in tournament and opened up a 1.5-game lead over Golden State. 

“Another night where they made some threes, some pick-and-pop threes, and it didn’t feel good,” head coach Will Hardy said. “But the guys, again understanding that the key to the game was protecting the paint, stuck with it. … It allowed us to hang around. Then we had a bunch of guys on the offensive side play really well. Six guys in double figures, credit to the whole team.”

Coming down to the wire on Tuesday night, fans were treated to the two best clutch teams in the league putting on a show. Clutch minutes in the NBA are minutes played when the scoring margin is within five points with five or fewer minutes remaining in a game. Utah is 11-8 in the clutch this season with the No. 2 ranked clutch offense. The only team better? Their opponent. Oklahoma City was 16-10 in the clutch this year, boasting the league’s top clutch offense. 

Jalen Williams knocked down a three to give the Thunder a 113-112 lead with 3:54 left in the game. But that’s when the Jazz got cooking.&nbsp;

Walker Kessler finished with a dunk on the ensuing possession, giving Utah a lead they wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the way. Leading by four with just under a minute to go, Lauri Markkanen put the nail in the coffin, taking a pass from Kessler before drilling the wing three for the seven-point lead. Keyonte George was also massive down the stretch, knocking down two threes in the final minutes.

To say Tuesday night was a team effort might be underselling what the Jazz did collectively in the victory over the Thunder. Six players finished in double figures, seven players finished with at least two assists, and five players grabbed at least four rebounds.

Markkanen was sensational, finishing with a double-double and looking like the best player on the court for much of the night. He ended with 33 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 12-of-18 from the floor and 5-of-7 from three. His physicality and versatility were on full display, taking advantage of mismatches to score 17 points in the third quarter before hitting the dagger three late. 

Much like Markkanen, John Collins also shined. The Thunder struggled against his combination of strength and athleticism, as he finished with 22 points and nine rebounds. Collin Sexton added 14 points, while Kris Dunn finished with eight points, five assists, four steals, three rebounds, and three blocks. 

George led the second unit with 16 points (4-of-6 from three) and five assists, while Jordan Clarkson chipped in 12 points. Kelly Olynyk added 10 points, seven assists, and four rebounds, while Kessler added four points, nine rebounds, and three blocks.&nbsp;

Utah trailed 92-82 with 4:14 left in the third quarter following a Lu Dort three for the Thunder. More importantly, the crowd was quiet as Oklahoma City looked poised to break the game open. 

But as they’ve done over and over again — and most recently, two nights ago against Milwaukee — the Jazz never quit. Back-to-back buckets by Keyonte George ignited the home crowd, and it was just the beginning. Utah ended the quarter on a 14-0 run to take a 96-92 lead heading to the fourth quarter. 

The lineup of George, Clarkson, Dunn, Markkanen, and Kessler allowed the Jazz to spread the floor on offense while staying big on defense. Kessler and Dunn were dominant on the defensive end, especially against Gilgeous-Alexander. With Dunn hounding him everywhere he went, Kessler roamed the backline, contesting shots and grabbing rebounds. 

“We turned in a defensive performance tonight where they had 36 points in the paint, only eight in the second half,” Hardy said. “I thought our awareness in the second half, to Shai in particular, was much better as a group. I thought Kris Dunn had some magnificent moments one-on-one, but it’s not just about Kris. … I thought his teammates did a much better job in the second half of their recognition and shifting to help Kris in certain moments.”

“But he (Dunn) did an amazing job in the second half on Shai.”

If there was one part of the game where the Jazz could exert their will over the Thunder, it would come on the glass.&nbsp;

Entering Tuesday, Utah was one of the top rebounding teams in the league, averaging 46.6 (2nd in the NBA) total rebounds and 12.7 (3rd in the NBA) offensive boards per game. They grabbed 33.3% of their missed shots per game, second-best in the league. Likewise, Oklahoma City has struggled on the glass, averaging 41.6 (26th) total rebounds per game. They’ve struggled on the defensive glass, grabbing 68.2% of missed shots (29th in the league). 

Utah attacked the glass relentlessly all night, outrebounding the Thunder 48-32. The Jazz grabbed 15 offensive rebounds — three more than their average — and finished with a 19-9 advantage in second-chance points. Led by Markkanen’s 11 rebounds, three players finished with at least nine. 

There was a lot of star power on the court Tuesday night.&nbsp;

Markkanen, fresh off winning the Most Improved Player of the Year award, will be heading to Indianapolis for All-Star Weekend to compete in the three-point contest. Oklahoma City guard Gilgeous-Alexander will be there as well, being named a Western Conference starter for the All-Star Game.

Both teams will also be exceptionally well represented during the Rising Stars game. Utah will have rookie George and Kessler playing, while Chet Holmgren, Williams, and Cason Wallace will be suiting up for Oklahoma City. Kessler and Williams played in the game last year, were named to the All-Rookie first team, and finished in the top three for Rookie of the Year voting. 

George has come on strong as of late for the Jazz, averaging 15.3 points over his last six games. Meanwhile, Holmgren is one of two frontrunners for this year’s Rookie of the Year award, while Wallace is one of the best defensive guards in the rookie class.

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"Hang Around" — 5 Things to Know Following Utah's Victory Over Oklahoma City

There are no Sunday scaries for Utah Jazz fans this week

Sunday night, Utah staged one of its most dramatic comebacks of the year. The Jazz overcame a 14-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to outscore the Bucks by 27 over the final 12 minutes and pick up the 123-108 victory. With the win, the Jazz snapped their three-game losing streak and remained in the final spot of the play-in tournament.

“I thought the team did a really good job tonight of really understanding what was actually happening in the game and not getting caught up in the emotion,” head coach Will Hardy said. “That group in the fourth quarter really caught a great rhythm. … For us to&nbsp; come away with a fourth quarter like that, against that level of a team, is a good win for us.”

1.) What. A. Comeback.Fighting to get over the hump in the second half, the Jazz were on their final legs when Giannis Antetokounmpo knocked down two free throws to give the Bucks a 99-85 lead with 11:01 left in the game. 

But Utah never quit, knowing they were the fresher team, and if they could respond with a quick run, they could make it interesting in the end. Utah blitzed the Bucks the rest of the way, going on an immediate 14-0 run as part of a more significant 38-9 run to end the game.&nbsp;

Kelly Olynyk and Lauri Markkanen hit back-to-back threes to start the run, but the play of Jordan Clarkson, Keyonte George, and Walker Kessler really turned the game.&nbsp;

Clarkson and George were superb at controlling the tempo, knowing when to push and when to set the offense up. George dropped 10 points, while Clarkson added five points and four assists in the final 12 minutes. Kessler gave the Jazz a presence in the paint, finishing with seven points, five rebounds, and one block in the fourth quarter.&nbsp;

“I thought it was big for us,” Hardy said of the comeback. “We understood they were on a back-to-back. … That’s where we got our legs. We play 10 guys so maybe our guys aren’t as worn down in the fourth quarter. I thought that group in the fourth quarter in particular. … I was happy with their pace because it wasn’t just off the dribble, we did a good job of throwing it ahead.”

2.) Starters vs. BenchComing into Sunday’s showdown, the contrasting styles of play between the Jazz and Bucks couldn’t have been more prevalent. Utah was getting 45.7 points per game from their bench this season, second most in the league. Likewise, Milwaukee leads the league at 91.8 points per game from its starters. 

Led by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 33 points and 13 assists, Milwaukee did its job as its starters combined for 94 points. But the Jazz bench also stepped up, finishing with 55 points as three players scored in double figures.

Kessler finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks, while Olynyk added eight points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Clarkson finished with 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists.&nbsp;

3.) Double-DoublesJohn Collins is in one of the best stretches during his time with the Jazz. 

After finishing Sunday with 15 points and 10 rebounds, Collins recorded his fourth double-double in six games. It was his 15th double-double this season, trailing Lauri Markkanen by one for the team lead. Over the past six games, he’s averaging 16 points and 10.5 rebounds on 63% shooting from the floor.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, George finished with the first double-double of his career when he dropped 19 points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds. He was dominant in the second half where he scored 16 points, knocking down four threes.&nbsp;

“Trust the work,” George said postgame. “I feel like these next two months are where people can drop off and feel tired, but I’m trying to test myself and see if I can push though the fatigue and see what my body can take. I’m really dialing in mentally an physically, just trying to take myself to another level and carry myself like a pro every day.”

4.) Firing From ThreeEntering Sunday night, Milwaukee is among the best in the NBA at defending the three-point line — one of the top teams in this category over the past three seasons. They give up an average of 34.2 attempts per game (10th in the NBA) while holding opponents to 35% shooting (5th). 

The Jazz looked to buck that trend in the first quarter, shooting 7-of-15 from deep, with four different players knocking one down from deep. But Utah turned a six-point lead after one to a 12-point deficit heading to the fourth. However, things turned in the fourth when the Jazz knocked down five threes in the final 12 minutes.&nbsp;

Utah shot 17-of-44 from three, the fourth time they’ve hoisted 44+ threes in a game and the second time they’ve beat the Bucks this season doing so. In the four games Utah has attempted 44 threes this year, Sunday had the second-highest three-point percentage at 38.6%, which only topped in their victory in Milwaukee on Jan. 8.

5.) No Dame TimeThree nights ago, Philadelphia All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey lit up the Delta Center with 51 points. Unfortunately for Utah, their run of seeing All-Star guards wasn’t over as Weber State legend Damian Lillard came to town on Sunday. 

Lillard thoroughly enjoys playing in the state of Utah, winning last season’s three-point contest at the All-Star break before dropping a 30/12/7 stat line in his return to Utah on March 22.&nbsp;

Utah did a much better job in limiting Lillard on Sunday. Beginning with Kris Dunn, Lillard never found a rhythm from the onset and finished just 5-of-18 from the field and 1-of-8 from deep. The Jazz held him to 12 points and a -21 rating in 38 minutes. 

+1.) FREE STUFFWhile the victory is always good, Sunday night was remarkable for an entirely different reason. Utah's victory over the Bucks led to four successful in-game promotions. 

Win the opening tip:&nbsp;Fans win a FREE Double Cheeseburger (w/ minimum purchase of $2) courtesy of McDonald's.Score 111+ points:&nbsp;Fans win a FREE Small Arby's Curly or Crinkle Fry.Opposing team misses 2 FT's in the fourth quarter:&nbsp;Fans win FREE Chicken from Chick-fil-A.Jazz Win:&nbsp;Fans win a free treat courtesy of Swig.

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"Trust the Work" — 5 Things to Know Following Utah's Victory Over Milwaukee

Returning home for the first time in two weeks and in front of a sellout crowd on national television, the Jazz and 76ers gave fans everywhere a treat on Thursday night.&nbsp;

In a game that came down to the wire, with the teams exchanging haymakers over the entire fourth quarter, the simplest of moments decided things in the end. Despite having chances to take the lead in the final minute, Utah couldn't land one more blow and fell 127-124 to Philadelphia.&nbsp;

“The end of the game, there were some really disappointing moments from an execution standpoint,” head coach Will Hardy said. “We failed to recognize the urgency that’s needed in those moments. … It’s hard because sometimes a lot of effort physically, emotionally gets poured into a game like that, and we just end up hurting ourselves by not doing a few simple things.”

Here are five things to know following the loss.

1.) Six in Double FiguresAfter struggling in the final two games of the road trip, the Jazz got a boost when returning to the comfortable confines of the Delta Center. 

Six players finished in double-figures for Utah, led by Lauri Markkanen's double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds. He finished 10-of-15 from the field, and after starting 1-5 from three, Markkanen knocked down his final four. He also added three assists.&nbsp;

Collin Sexton finished with 22 points and six assists on an efficient shooting night, while John Collins added 15 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks to pace the starters.

Utah's bench was again dominant, outscoring the 76ers 49-20. Jordan Clarkson finished with 16 points and 10 assists, while Kelly Olynyk finished with 14 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Keyonte George chipped in 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists.&nbsp;

“Losing’s hard,” Hardy said. “Trying to build yourself into a really sustainable winning program is hard, and there are moments of pain. … This is one of those moments of pain. We’ve got to up our ability to learn. … We’ve got to up our awareness to what’s going on in the game.”

2.) Markkanen Dominates Fourth QuarterWith Utah trailing by six with 9:04 left in the fourth quarter, Markkanen checked back into the game. If the Jazz wanted any shot at breaking their two-game losing streak, Markkanen would need to play a significant role down the stretch. 

Over the next six minutes, Markkanen scored 14 points on 5-of-5 from the field, 3-of-3 from deep and grabbed three rebounds. His three with 3:12 left tied the game at 117 — but it may not have been his biggest play. On the next possession, Markkanen drove to the hoop and, with the defense collapsing, kicked to a wide-open Sexton, who knocked down the three for the lead with 2:32 remaining.&nbsp;

Markkanen's performance was special because he did most of the damage in the game's biggest moments. He scored five straight upon checking back in and then kept his foot on the pedal the rest of the way.&nbsp;

3.) Sharing the RockIn back-to-back losses against the Knicks and Nets, the Jazz got away from one of their core philosophies as a team: pass the ball. For a team that ranks 7th in the NBA at 28.2 assists per game, Utah dished out 23 assists in each game. 

Utah recorded 21 assists on 24-of-44 shooting in the first half. While that number dipped slightly in the second half, the Jazz still finished with 36 assists on 45-of-87 shooting from the field.&nbsp;

Ten players had at least one assist, led by Clarkson's 10.

4.) Dunn DefenseIn the first half, the Jazz had no answer for 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey. After being named to his first All-Star game just hours before, Maxey put on a show in the opening 24 minutes when he dropped 32 points on 6-of-6 from three. 

Coming out of the break, it was clear that the Jazz wouldn't let Maxey have the same freedom in the second half. That meant Kris Dunn, Utah's best perimeter defender, was the next man up. Dunn was sensational defensively, completely changing the game as the Jazz turned an eight-point deficit at the break to head into the fourth quarter tied at 93.&nbsp;

Dunn matched up with Maxey for the first nine minutes of the quarter until he checked out. During that time, Maxey was 0-for-3 when defended by Dunn. The fact that he only took three shots shows how physical Dunn was with him, face-guarding him and never allowing him to settle into a rhythm. As soon as Dunn checked out, Maxey finished the quarter 2-of-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line.

“Obviously, the beginning of the game, we gambled a lot on Tyrese Maxey and he got going,” Hardy said. “I thought the defense on him in the second half was much better. … Kris did have a very good second half defensively. … I give him a lot of credit for the way that he really cranked up the gas to start the second half from a defensive standpoint.”

5.) Markkanen All-Star CaseDespite being among the best players in the NBA this season, Lauri Markkanen will not be heading to Indianapolis for the All-Star game. Announced just hours before tipoff, Markannen was not chosen as a reserve for the Western Conference. 

Despite the Western Conference being the deepest it's been in a long time, Markkanen's omission is somewhat surprising. There are many deserving players in the west, but make no mistake, Markkanen is among those deserving. He's averaging 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds with shooting splits of 49/40/88.

Markkanen is having one of the best three-point shooting seasons in history for a big man. He has made 128 three-pointers through 40 games this season. The only power forwards/centers to have more made threes through their first 40 games of a season is Davis Bertans (144 in 2019-20).

“I wish Lauri was named to the All-Star team. … But I also think that all the guys that were named to the All-Star team were deserving,” Hardy said. “He gives us the opportunity every night, no matter who we’re playing or how they’re guarding us, he’s going to give us an opportunity to create some advantages for our team because of his wide-ranging skill set. … He makes my job a lot easier.”

“There are nights where we all need to pinch ourselves and go, ‘What this guy does night in and night out is pretty amazing,’”

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"Recognize the Urgency" — Despite Markkanen's Monster Fourth Quarter, Utah Falls in Heartbreaking Fashion

After a history-making first half, the Jazz appeared to be in great shape against the Hornets. But Charlotte didn't go down easily, forcing head coach Will Hardy to play his starters late into the fourth quarter.&nbsp;

Ultimately, Utah held strong and picked up the 134-122 victory. The Jazz now have back-to-back wins and improved to 24-23 on the year while moving into 9th place in the Western Conference.

"Tonight is one of those reminders that the timing of things can make you feel certain ways," Hardy said postgame. "We're not as good as the first half, and we aren't as bad as the second half. I think if we came in tonight and said we would come in and win by 12 on the road, we would've taken it."

1.) History-Making NightFor 50 years, no team in the Jazz organization has had a first quarter like this year's squad just did on Saturday night. 

In the opening 12 minutes, Utah set a franchise record with 47 points — which would've been 50 if not for Collin Sexton's last-second three rimming out. The Jazz shot 18-of-26 from the field and 9-from beyond the arc to take a 23-point lead into the second quarter. More than just offensively, the Jazz got after it on the defensive end. They held the Hornets to 10-of-27 from the field.

Lauri Markkanen was especially dominant, finishing with 18 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three. Collin Sexton was just as good, dropping 17 points, six assists, and two steals.&nbsp;

The good vibes didn't stop there as Utah led 82-47 at the break, setting a franchise record for points in the half. The Jazz also dished out a franchise-record 25 assists in the first half, with six players notching at least two. Markkanen and Sexton combined for 45 points in the opening 24 minutes.&nbsp;

"The first half, the ball was moving around great," Hardy said. "I thought the quality of shots were great. … That's what we are chasing, can we generate that good of looks for our team? There were a lot of people that were making plays, and the ball just ended up finding Collin and Lauri a lot to finish those plays."

2.) Double-DoublesWith Charlotte cutting Utah's 35-point halftime lead in half heading to the fourth quarter, Markkanen and Sexton came up with big plays when the Jazz needed them most. Sexton's personal 4-0 run in the game's final minute clinched the victory, while Markkanen grabbed five rebounds in the final six minutes. 

Markkanen continued to prove his All-Star candidacy when he finished with 33 points and 12 rebounds, his 15th double-double this season. He shot 12-of-18 from the floor and 7-for-12 from beyond the arc, a season-high in threes. He also added three assists and one steal.

Sexton also recorded a double-double and finished with 24 points, 13 assists, and four rebounds in one of his best performances of the year. His 13 assists were a career-high. He shot 9-of-19 from the field and 3-for-7 from three.&nbsp;

3.) Dunn DefenseAlthough he doesn't get talked about nearly as much as he should, Kris Dunn has been essential as the Jazz have turned their season around over the last six weeks.

While he finished with a modest stat line of seven points, six assists, and four rebounds in 17 minutes, his influence goes far beyond the box score.&nbsp;

Heading into the game against Washington two nights ago, Dunn led the NBA in the lowest field goal percentage allowed as the closest defender this season at 39% (minimum 200 shots defended). That number is now lower after the past two games. He held the Wizards to 2-of-6 shooting on Thursday and the Hornets to 3-of-8 on Saturday.&nbsp;

"Kris gives our team a swagger," Hardy said. "Energy is at a premium this time of year. You need to find life sources in different ways, and Kris does that with his swagger and with his mouth for our team. … His personality has taken on a leadership role for our team."

4.) Take of Two HalvesOne of the most insightful pieces of information that Hardy has told me came last year when he said, "A double-digit lead in the first half means nothing in the NBA." 

Typically, when a team has a massive lead in the first 24 minutes, complacency starts to creep in. And before you know it, it's a single-digit lead in the fourth quarter, and it's anybody's game. That was the fear on Saturday night after the Jazz got off to a blistering start in the first half — would the team finish strong or get complacent and let the Hornets creep back in?

Following a layup by Dunn early in the half, Utah stretched its lead to 36. However, Charlotte didn't go down without a fight. The Hornets outscored the Jazz 38-19 over the final 9:46 of the quarter to trim Utah's lead to just 17 heading into the final 12 minutes.&nbsp;

While the Jazz kept the Hornets at bay for most of the fourth quarter, PJ Washington and Charlotte caught fire late. A Washington three-pointer cut Utah's lead to seven with just 58 seconds remaining. Although Sexton would get a bucket on the other end to put the game out of reach, there is still a lesson to be learned.

"Credit to Charlotte, they flipped it, and the shotmaking went their way," Hardy said. "But overall, I'm happy that we won. … You'd rather learn some of this stuff in a win. I do recognize the human element that it's hard to play up 35, there can be slippage in those moments. … But we are trying to fight that habit so that we can continue to get better."

"We just wanted, in other words, to 'finish our food,'" John Collins (20 points, nine rebounds) said. "We had a big lead, and we let them come back. We knew we weren't going to have that 36-point lead for the entire game. … We just wanted to weather that storm."

5.) Scoring StreakWith a three-pointer by Ochai Agbaji with 7:19 left in the fourth quarter, Utah extended its franchise record to 11 straight games of 120+ points scored. That is also the longest streak in the NBA this season, and now just one behind tying the league record of 12 consecutive games — done three times in history. 

Ironically, this recent run came on the heels of a 97-point outing in a loss to Boston, their worst offensive output in a month. The Jazz are now 8-3 during this stretch, averaging 128.7 points per game. They're shooting 51.2% from the field and 38.4% from beyond the arc, averaging 31 assists on 46.2 makes per game.

Utah was even more efficient against the Hornets, shooting 52-of-93 (55.9%) from the field and 17-for-41 (41.5%) from beyond the arc. They dished out a season-high 38 assists, with five players recording at least three.&nbsp;

"It started in the locker room," Collins said of Utah's fast start. "We came into the locker room with good vibes, and it just bled onto the court. … I feel like that momentum from when we start the game is huge."&nbsp;

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"That's What we are Chasing" — 5 Things to Know Following Utah's Victory Over Charlotte

There are bound to be ebbs and flows in every NBA season.&nbsp;

After facing New Orleans on Tuesday night, the Jazz suffered their third consecutive loss — and that was coming off a stretch where they had gone 12-2 over their previous 14 games. After that, head coach Will Hardy was very poignant with his postgame comments.&nbsp;

“The reality of tonight’s game and the reality of the last three games, we’re just not playing hard enough,” he said Tuesday. “We’ve got to find a way to crank up the gas. … I have no concerns about the ability to pivot back to playing great basketball.”

The Jazz returned to playing hard on Thursday night, and the results followed.&nbsp;

With six players in double figures, Utah used a big run in the first quarter and never trailed again, taking down Washington 123-108 on Thursday night. The win snapped Utah’s three-game losing streak and moved the team into 9th place in the Western Conference.&nbsp;

“Overall, I thought there were a bunch of guys who contributed to the win,” Hardy said. “We don’t take any win on the road for granted. … Playing on the road in this league is very hard, and coming off the two losses, tonight was a good win.”

1.) Markkanen Quick StartComing off his second-lowest scoring night of the season, chances were high that the Jazz would try and get Lauri Markkanen going early. 

Markkanen played the entire first quarter — a rarity for him — and finished with 13 points, two assists, one rebound, and one steal. He shot 5-of-9 from the field and 2-for-6 from three. His scoring output in that quarter alone was more than his total against the Pelicans two nights ago (11 points).&nbsp;

Markkanen kept attacking the rest of the way, finishing with 29 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. He went a perfect 4-for-4 from three in the second half, including back-to-back shots late in the fourth to seal the win.&nbsp;

“I think Lauri is playing with so much force on the offensive end,” Hardy said. “When he plays with that force, there are times he gets to shoot. … But there are also times when he’s drawing multiple defenders. Where it doesn’t show up in the stats is that if he draws multiple defenders and he kicks it, it puts their team in rotations. … He doesn’t necessarily directly get the assist, but he created that initial advantage.”

2.) First Quarter RunWith Hardy making it clear he wanted the Jazz to play harder and get out to better starts, the team didn’t have an ideal opening few minutes. Washington started the game 6-for-6 from the field as Utah trailed 13-4 just three minutes in.

Instead of calling a customary timeout , Hardy elected to let the Jazz play through it. That turned out to be the right call. Simone Fontecchio drilled a three on the next possession and then unlocked Utah’s offense. The Jazz then rattled off a 28-5 run, punctuated by another Fontecchio three to take a 14-point lead with three minutes left in the first quarter.

The Jazz never trailed the rest of the way, pushing their lead to as much as 25 early in the fourth quarter. 

3.) Bench ScoringThursday’s showdown between Utah and Washington featured two of the prominent benches in the league. Entering the game, the Jazz were second in the NBA in bench scoring at 45.2, while the Wizards were fifth at 41.6. 

Utah won that battle on Thursday, outscoring Washington 47-26.

Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olynyk were sensational for the Jazz, combining for 38 points on 15-of-28 from the floor. Clarkson dropped 19 points, eight assists, and three rebounds, while Olynyk added 19 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Keyonte George added five points and seven assists, finishing with a +16 rating in 30 minutes.

“Obviously, the three-game skid for us, but it’s great to bounce back and get a win,” Olynyk said. “Two of those games, we really felt it went right down to the end and it could’ve went either way. … We could’ve easily been 2-1 in that three-game slide. Tonight was about just keeping the momentum, keeping our heads up. … We know what kind of team we are and what we are capable of, just get back to playing how we want to play and execute on both ends.”

4.) Double-Double LifeAfter being Utah’s big offseason acquisition, John Collins had his best game of the season on Thursday night. He finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds, both career-highs in a Utah uniform. It was also his 12th career 20-point, 15-rebound game and the 12th double-double this year. 

Collins shot 11-of-15 from the floor while adding one assist and one steal. He was effective on the offensive glass, grabbing seven rebounds — two more than Washington did as a team.&nbsp;

He’s settling in nicely with the Jazz, averaging 15.0 points and 7.5 rebounds on 59.7% shooting in his past 10 games.

“I think John Collins, his activity tonight, his energy level screening, rolling, getting on the glass. … I thought that he was a huge reason why we won tonight’s game,” Hardy said. “John’s obviously very vertically athletic. He’s maybe the best guy on our team at just snatching the ball with two hands above the rim. … He’s aggressive going to the glass, he rebounds with force.”

5.) Dominant Lineup Over the past 15 games, the lineup of Markkanen, Clarkson, Fontecchio, Keyonte George, and Walker Kessler has the third-best net rating of any lineup in the league. That group has a +19.2 net rating in just 61 minutes. 

With the Jazz off to a slow start, Hardy mixed things up with his regular rotation. He put in George, Clarkson, and Kessler alongside starters Markkanen and Fontecchio, with Utah up 22-18 with 4:30 left in the first quarter. The Jazz went on an immediate 10-0 run, with Markkanen and Fontecchio doing all the scoring.&nbsp;

Although Washington would close strong, the spurt from that unit was enough to give Utah breathing room heading to the second quarter. That group finished +4 in points, dishing out four assists as the Jazz led 36-29 after one.&nbsp;